Navy Advances $1.2 Billion MUSV Effort and Opens Additional Unmanned Systems Pathways

The U.S. Navy is expanding procurement of unmanned air and maritime systems through a $1.2 billion medium unmanned surface vessel (MUSV) production effort. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in FY2027, and the effort identifies Galliano Marine Services, HII, and Saronic Technologies as awardees. Each is expected to deliver 10 vessels. Those initial deliveries are part of a broader, longer-range fleet objective rather than a complete statement of Navy demand: plans call for 47 MUSVs and 16 extra-large unmanned underwater vehicles by 2031.

For contractors, the scale and timing of the fleet plan point to a market that extends beyond the named production effort. Companies may find entry points through the Navy’s rolling MUSV marketplace solicitations, which provide an ongoing route to compete for unmanned surface vessel work. The fleet objective also gives prospective suppliers reason to track acquisition announcements, platform requirements, production capacity, and related integration needs as the Navy advances its plans. The available information does not specify the schedule or procurement structure for every planned vehicle, so firms should distinguish long-term fleet objectives from presently identified awards and opportunities.

Other near-term pathways target different capabilities and maturity levels. The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) SWAP-USV Challenge offers up to $100 million for unmanned surface vessels capable of carrying at least two armed drones. Companies with relevant platforms can assess the challenge alongside Navy marketplace solicitations, while accounting for the challenge’s stated payload requirement. Separately, a Navy SBIR Phase I opportunity seeks low-cost, portable unmanned aircraft system capabilities for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. The solicitation, DON27BZ02-NV022, has a proposal deadline of January 6, 2027. These opportunities should not be conflated: the SBIR is focused on portable UAS capabilities, while the DIU challenge and MUSV effort concern unmanned surface vessels.

The competitive picture also includes an acquisition-process development: a court-ordered reevaluation of Saildrone’s MUSV proposal. The reevaluation may affect the competitive landscape, making it important for firms to monitor the ongoing evaluation before drawing conclusions about positioning or future awards. The reported involvement of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims and Government Accountability Office in the broader procurement context underscores the need to follow both acquisition notices and relevant legal or oversight developments. Across these routes, contractors should map their offerings to the specific vehicle, mission, solicitation, and deadline, and avoid treating a long-range fleet objective as an immediately available contract.

• Production effort: The Navy’s MUSV production effort is valued at $1.2 billion, with deliveries scheduled to begin in FY2027.
• Named awardees: Galliano Marine Services, HII, and Saronic Technologies are each expected to deliver 10 vessels.
• Long-range fleet objective: Navy plans call for 47 MUSVs and 16 extra-large unmanned underwater vehicles by 2031.
• Marketplace access: Companies should monitor the Navy’s rolling MUSV marketplace solicitations for potential competition and entry points.
• DIU challenge: The SWAP-USV Challenge offers up to $100 million for USVs capable of carrying at least two armed drones.
• SBIR opportunity: DON27BZ02-NV022 seeks low-cost, portable UAS capabilities for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; proposals are due January 6, 2027.
• Competitive-process watch: A court-ordered reevaluation of Saildrone’s MUSV proposal may affect the competitive landscape; track the evaluation as it proceeds.
• Positioning implication: Separate near-term solicitations and awards from longer-range fleet objectives, and align each bid strategy with its specific platform, mission, and acquisition pathway.