US Navy’s First Overlord USV Vanguard For Autonomous Operations Launched Successfully

The Vanguard is the first from the program for future Large Uncrewed Surface Vessels (abbreviated LUSV), each in the range of 200ft to 300ft in length, to be developed from the keel-up for autonomous operations, per the NAVSEA. At the moment undergoing testing and outfitting, Vanguard, a joint effort from L3HArris and Austal USA, will autonomously transit to San Diego, where the sister vessels OUSV4 Mariner and OUSV1 Ranger are stationed, besides two extra Medium USVs, Seahawk and Sea Hunter, built under a separate program.

Phase 1 of the Overlord program reportedly involved the conversion of two commercial fast supply vessels into USVs to produce the OUSV1 Ranger and the OUSV2 Nomad. The OUSV4 Mariner and the OUSV3 Vanguard were developed as part of Phase 2 of the program.

Speaking about the Ghost Fleet Overlord program back in June 2021, following the second successful transit of the Pacific by the Nomad, Jay Dryer, the Strategic Capabilities Director, emphasized that the program accelerates the service priorities, especially in Naval prototyping by integrating the mature tech as part of the broader Navy Unmanned Campaign Framework.

The close collaboration with the SCO on the Overlord program is reportedly accelerating the tech demonstration, CONOPs development, and the operational command and control of unmanned surface vessels in alignment with the Navy’s strategies, mentioned Capt: Pete Small, the Navy Program Manager with the USVs.

Leidos was also awarded a deal worth up to $95 million for managing the Overlord programs and the Navy’s Medium USV program in August last year, with a year of base period and two one-year options.

Reference: MarineLink

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