Hydroid Wins Contract Mod for MK 18 UUV Program

Kongsberg’s US subsidiary, Hydroid, has received a contract modification from the US Navy for the MK 18 family of unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) systems.

The agreement is a $52.3m modification to a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the MK 18 UUV family. The modification expands the framework agreement between the US Navy and Hydroid to increase the ceiling for production support. If all options under the contract are exercised, its total value would reach $100m, up from the previous figure of $48m.

The MK 18 program is designed to support UUV systems. Work under the contract will be performed in Pocasset, Massachusetts. Hydroid is expected to complete the work by April 2024.

In April this year, the company was awarded a $23.11m contract for production support for the MK 18 family of UUV systems.

Hydroid is delivering its Remus 100 and 600 UUV systems to the US Navy. The UUVs are known as Mk 18 Mod 1 and Mod 2 Kingfish in the Navy service. The navy uses the Remus 100 system for mine countermeasure operations. Remus 100 is a man-portable UUV that enables rapid deployment and has a maximum operating depth of 100m. The system has the ability to operate for up to 12 hours and can be launched from a dock or any ‘vessel of opportunity’. Developed in partnership with the Office of Naval Research, REMUS 600 can be deployed in support of navy missions in both oceanic and shallow waters.