General Dynamics Mission Systems Wins Contract to Expand MEDUSA UUV Program

2 November 2026
Edited By: Haley McQueen

General Dynamics Mission Systems has announced that it was awarded a $15 million contract modification to exercise options under a previously awarded contract for the Mining Expendable Delivery Unmanned Submarine Asset (MEDUSA).

(Image credit: General Dynamics Mission Systems)

Building on the prototype, software, and engineering work advanced under the July contract modification, this follow-on award continues MEDUSA’s maturation and expands the program’s support infrastructure.

MEDUSA is an advanced, submarine-launched delivery system that uses an expendable unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) to deploy diverse payloads with precision. Purpose-built to meet the US Navy’s requirements for long-range offensive mining capability, the system offers flexibility to host additional payloads across a range of maritime missions.

“This contract modification sustains the momentum behind MEDUSA as the Navy advances its undersea capabilities,” said Laura Hooks, vice president and general manager of the Maritime and Strategic Systems business at General Dynamics Mission Systems. “Our team is focused on maturing the prototype systems and applying proven undersea engineering to deliver a reliable, flexible capability for the fleet. MEDUSA reflects General Dynamics’ commitment to giving Navy operators more options in the undersea domain,” continued Hooks.

Work began in September 2026 and will continue through February 2028 at General Dynamics facilities in Quincy and Taunton, Massachusetts. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington Navy Yard, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity.

General Dynamics has invested in its facilities and staff to support the growth of its UUV centers of excellence and advance undersea programs. These include the Center of Excellence for Research and Development, Prototyping, and Offshore Test in Quincy and the UUV Manufacturing and Assembly Center of Excellence in Taunton.

Together, these sites provide an integrated path from concept through production. The Quincy facility supports rapid prototyping and in-water testing, while the Taunton facility provides the advanced manufacturing capacity to transition mature designs toward full-rate production. Alongside these investments, General Dynamics is working with key suppliers to strengthen the industrial base and expand production capacity to meet the US Navy’s future demands. This combined effort equips General Dynamics to meet current Navy requirements while advancing the next generation of undersea capabilities.