DoD signs underwater drone contract with Teledyne SeaBotix
NewsJanuary 10, 2017
SAN DIEGO. Teledyne SeaBotix has won a multimillion dollar U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) operational capability upgrade contract for underwater remotely operated vehicles (ROVs). The observation-class ROVs are used by mobile explosive ordnance disposal units around the world.
According to Teledyne SeaBotix, the DoD contract -- obtained through distributor Atlantic Diving Supply -- entails delivery of 60 new vLBV300 ROV systems that are to be fitted with a range of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) equipment, including imaging sonar, tooling options, altimeter, and undersea acoustic positioning/GPS navigation capability. They will also feature the Teledyne Marine autonomous ROV navigation package, SmartFlight.
The Teledyne SeaBotix mini ROVs are intended to perform such diverse tasks as maritime security; search and recovery; hull, pipeline, and infrastructure inspection; hazardous-environment intervention; aquaculture; sensor deployment; oceanographic research; and nuclear applications.