Northrop Grumman to develop next-gen undersea drone

In a latest contract announcement, the U.S. Department of Defense disclosed that Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., headquartered in Annapolis, Maryland, has secured a cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to advance the ‘Full Spectrum Undersea Warfare Innovative Naval Prototype Autonomous Undersea Exploitation’ initiative.

The program, managed by the Office of Naval Research (ONR), aims to conduct advanced research and development activities focused on autonomous undersea capabilities.

According to the announcement, the contract specifically covers research into technologies designed to enhance the Navy’s ability to perceive and respond to undersea threats autonomously. This research includes developing sophisticated autonomous systems capable of undersea reconnaissance, detection, and exploitation operations.

The contract encompasses a cumulative value of approximately $24.9 million and is structured around a 60-month base period with no additional options. Work under the agreement will primarily be conducted in Annapolis, Maryland, and is scheduled to conclude by March 2030.

The Navy has obligated an initial amount of $50,000 from Fiscal 2025 research, development, test, and evaluation funds at the time of award.