The Mission Specialist Defender system has a modular design for straightforward integration with quite a lot of instruments. | Supply: BlueHalo
BlueHalo LLC final week introduced that it has received a contract value $30,735,784 to supply engineering and assist companies for its Maritime Expeditionary Standoff Response, or MESR, programs.
The Naval Info Warfare Middle (NIWC) Pacific issued the five-year contract, which helps the U.S. Navy’s ongoing operations utilizing the Mission Specialist Defender remotely operated automobile (ROV).
The award follows the Navy’s $92.6 million MESR contract awarded to VideoRay in Might 2024. The corporate stated it reinforces its function in supporting the U.S. Navy with superior underwater robotic expertise for expeditionary missions, mine countermeasures, and underwater safety. BlueHalo purchased VideoRay in November.
“This follow-on contract highlights the U.S. Navy’s dedication to adapting and customizing our business off-the-shelf protection options to satisfy the evolving wants of its expeditionary forces,” acknowledged Jonathan Moneymaker, CEO of BlueHalo. “We’re honored to proceed our assist in delivering cutting-edge, mission-critical ROVs that improve maritime safety, reconnaissance, and response capabilities for the fleet.”
Mission Specialist Defender designed for high-risk missions
BlueHalo stated its Mission Specialist Defender offers excessive maneuverability, payload integration, and operational flexibility. These capabilities allow the ROV to finish missions in high-risk maritime environments, it added.
The system has extra exact management of auto place and orientation than BlueHalo’s different ROVs and may deal with demanding intervention. This contains issues like rendering an unexploded ordinance protected or cleansing nets for offshore fish farms.
A few of the maritime system’s options embody:
High-side management in a strong and compact console
A modular design so customers can create a customized system for his or her utility
Depth ranking out there as much as 1,000 m (3,280.8 ft.)
Seven thrusters for higher management and positioning
BlueHalo acquisitions to advance autonomy
BlueHalo was based in 2019 as a purpose-built platform to supply capabilities in a number of key mission areas: house applied sciences, counter-uncrewed plane programs (cUAS), directed power, digital and cyber warfare, synthetic intelligence, and different rising applied sciences together with uncrewed underwater autos (UUVs). The Arlington, Va.-based firm is understood for its drone swarm and counter-drone expertise.
Acquired final yr, Videoray was a developer of small ROVs to be used in mission-critical areas, together with explosive ordinance disposal, mine countermeasures, cellular diving, salvage, and business purposes.
Additionally in November 2024, AeroVironment introduced its plans to buy BlueHalo in an all-stock transaction value roughly $4.1 billion. The Arlington, Va.-based protection contractor stated the acquisition will give it entry to a portfolio of merchandise and 100 patents.
AeroVironment stated the merchandise will complement its current experience within the design, growth, manufacturing, coaching, and servicing of uncrewed programs, loitering munitions, and superior applied sciences.
BlueHalo additionally final week introduced a memorandum of understanding to combine its next-generation autonomous programs, layered air protection options, hypersonic telemetry, and airspace command-and-control applied sciences into GrandSKY’s services and Air House Infrastructure Techniques (ASIS). The companions stated their aim is to create an unmatched flight operations surroundings.
As well as, BlueHalo stated the profitable demonstration of its two-terminal, long-haul, multi-orbit laser communication system was a “breakthrough within the growth of space-based laser communication expertise with far-reaching implications for nationwide safety and business sectors.”
