Marine technology company VideoRay on Tuesday announced it has been awarded a $92.6 million five-year indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract for the continuous production, sustainment, and development of the MK20 Defender Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) platform for the US Navy’s Maritime Expeditionary Standoff Response (MESR).
The deal provides access to VideoRay’s Mission Specialist family of underwater robotics systems to support the Navy’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal Underwater Response Vehicle program and the MESR program of record. Administered by Naval Information Warfare Command, Pacific, the contract provides for the delivery and support of the Navy’s next-generation remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROV) that will be used to conduct critical undersea missions to support our warfighters.
The MK20 Defender ROV, based on VideoRay’s Mission Specialist Defender, is a highly robust, man-portable, expeditionary ROV that offers modularity and an open architecture design that allows for the easy integration of third-party sensors, software applications, and versatile, field-swappable payload options to meet the Navy’s expanding needs for expeditionary mine countermeasure operations. Core technology onboard this platform has been developed by industry partners and includes: EOD Workspace control software and autonomy platform by Greensea IQ, Multibeam sonar and USBL positioning system by BluePrint Subsea, Doppler Velocity Log (DVL) for navigation by Nortek, and a 2-function manipulator by Eddify, which all combine to significantly expand vehicle capabilities while maintaining the size, weight and power (SWAP) specifications required to meet the Navy’s challenging requirements.
Designed and built in Pottstown, Pa. and serviced from our Pottstown and San Diego, California offices, the Mission Specialist Defender has quickly become the cornerstone of VideoRay’s Mission Specialist family of products, boasting a rapidly growing number of domestic and international defense and commercial customers worldwide.
“This production contract with the U.S. Navy marks an exciting new chapter for VideoRay, acknowledging the dedication and hard work of our team to achieve this significant milestone,” said Chris Gibson, CEO of VideoRay. “We are grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with the Navy and to receive valuable feedback, which has been instrumental in continuously enhancing our next-generation Expeditionary EOD and MCM systems to meet the fleet’s requirements. We look forward to continuing our partnership with the U.S. Navy, along with our partners to advance our technology and capabilities to meet the needs of our defense and commercial customers alike worldwide.”