# (U)LARGE UNMANNED SURFACE VESSELS (LUSVs) — Program Element 0603178N

**Program element:** 0603178N  
**Component:** U.S. Navy  
**Appropriation:** 1319 — RDT&E, Navy  
**Budget Activity:** 4 — Advanced Component Development & Prototypes  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0603178N

## Summary

U.S. Navy requests $0.0M in FY2027.

## Funding profile

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 45.5 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 0.0 |
| FY2027 | Request | 0.0 |
| FY2028 | Outyear | 0.0 |
| FY2029 | Outyear | 0.0 |
| FY2030 | Outyear | 0.0 |
| FY2031 | Outyear | 0.0 |

> Estimate types are not summed — the profile mixes actuals, enacted law, the request, and outyear projections.

## Projects (2)

| Project | Title | FY2025 actual | FY2026 enacted | FY2027 request | Move |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3066 | Large Unmanned Surface Vessel (LUSV) | 42.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — |
| 9999 | Congressional Adds | 2.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — |

> Projects are the summable leaves: the program element total is their sum, never added to it.

### Project 3066 — Large Unmanned Surface Vessel (LUSV)

The major goal for FY26 is conducting a prototyping phase in order to work with industry on reducing risk in preparation for serial production of vessels. This phase will focus on industry designs to ensure designs are producible and executable given budget and schedule goals. The Navy instituted a comprehensive system engineering framework and supporting land and sea based prototyping plan, which will be completed prior to commencing production. In support of this, the Navy has developed a holistic USV work breakdown structure (WBS) framework to help coordinate developmental and systems engineering efforts applicable across the USV portfolio and efforts that are platform specific. The WBS categories are divided into broad key enablers, including HM&E (1.0), C4I (2.0), USV ICS (3.0), Common Control System (CCS) (4.0), autonomy (5.0), and prototyping efforts (6.0). USVs will be capable of weeks-long deployments and trans-oceanic transits and operate aggregated with Carrier Strike Groups (CSGs), Amphibious Ready Groups (ARGs), Surface Action Groups (SAGs), and individual manned combatants. USVs will be capable of autonomous navigation, transit planning, and COLREGS-compliant maneuvering and will be designed with automated propulsion, electrical generation, and support systems. USV missions will be conducted with operators in-the-loop (with ability to provide continuous or near- continuous observation or control) or on-the-loop (autonomous operation that prompts operator action/intervention from sensory input or autonomous behaviors). USVs with integrated payload capability and prototypes employing non-organic payloads will not be capable of autonomous payload engagement or execution of a complete detect-to-engage sequence. The vessel will be incapable of payload activation, deactivation, or engagement without the deliberate action of a remote, off-hull human operator in the loop. The program will integrate current Navy combat systems programs of record that have been adapted to enable remote monitoring and operational control from an off-hull command and control point and will not be equipped with components that would enable payload engagement from onboard the vessel. USV Command and Control (C2) will be maintained via an afloat element (i.e., embarked on a United States Navy (USN) combatant), or via the ashore element (C2 station ashore).

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Product Development | 32.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Support | 8.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Management Services | 2.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 |

> R-2A activities carry the prior, current and budget year only — no five-year plan. Coverage is partial, so count them, never total them.

### Project 9999 — Congressional Adds

Investigate options for Gas turbine testing. Select course of action for Gas turbine testing. Develop and execute plan for testing gas turbine testing.

## Mission & acquisition strategy

The major goal for FY26 is conducting a prototyping phase in order to work with industry on reducing risk in preparation for serial production of vessels. This phase will focus on industry designs to ensure designs are producible and executable given budget and schedule goals. The Navy instituted a comprehensive system engineering framework and supporting land and sea based prototyping plan, which will be completed prior to commencing production. In support of this, the Navy has developed a holistic USV work breakdown structure (WBS) framework to help coordinate developmental and systems engineering efforts applicable across the USV portfolio and efforts that are platform specific.

In FY 2020, the Navy purchased two Overlord prototype USVs as a means to mitigate technical risk and continue to generate lessons learned through testing and experimentation, as well as to further refine CONOPs and TTPs to include manned/unmanned teaming. In FY 2020, the Navy also awarded six LUSV Studies Contracts for a LUSV with reservations in the design to integrate future payloads, which will inform the final Performance Specification.

## Related program elements

- [0604287F — Physical Security Equipment - SD ED](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604287F) (Air Force)
- [0204202N — DDG-1000](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0204202N) (Navy)
- [0607139A — Improved Turbine Engine Program](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0607139A) (Army)
- [0604609F — Requirements Analysis & Concept Maturation](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604609F) (Air Force)

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Navy RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibits R-2/R-3, PE 0603178N (PB PB2027).
- **MCP:** `mcp.hitchintel.com` — `budget_get_program_element(pe="0603178N")`.

*HitchAI is an independent intelligence service, not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Defense. Budget figures are requests/estimates, not obligations.*