Leidos unveils newest unmanned undersea vessel

Rhea-AI Summary

Leidos (LDOS) has unveiled Sea Dart, a new high-performance, low-cost uncrewed undersea vessel (UUV) designed for U.S. Navy and commercial applications. The vessel comes in two standard diameters (6 and 9 inches) and is easily transportable by one or two people.

Key features include:

• Payload agnostic design compatible with U.S. Navy's Underwater Vehicle software and non-propagating battery design
• 80-90% cost reduction compared to similar performance small UUVs
• Capability to operate at tactical speeds and depths for hours
• Applications in counter-mine operations, underwater surveys, infrastructure monitoring, and environmental sensing

Sea Dart joins Leidos' autonomous Sea Systems portfolio, which includes surface vessels like Sea Archer, Sea Hunter, Sea Hawk, Ranger, and Mariner. A 12¾ inch diameter variant is under consideration.

Positive

• Significant cost advantage: 80-90% lower cost than competing small UUVs
• Rapid development cycle: From concept to testing in just one year
• Versatile applications across military and commercial markets
• Compatible with U.S. Navy's existing software and battery systems

Negative

• size options currently available (only 6 and 9-inch variants)
• 12¾ inch variant still in consideration phase, not yet available

Insights

Defense Technology Analyst

Leidos' introduction of the Sea Dart unmanned undersea vessel (UUV) represents a potentially significant advancement in maritime autonomous systems with strategic implications for both military and commercial applications.

The most compelling feature is the vessel's reported 80-90% cost reduction compared to similar performing UUVs in the market. This dramatic price differential could be transformative in how UUVs are deployed, potentially enabling mass deployment scenarios previously considered cost-prohibitive. In military contexts, lower-cost platforms are often deployed in higher-risk environments where loss is acceptable, creating tactical options that expensive systems cannot provide.

The technical specifications reveal a thoughtful design approach: the modular payload capability, compatibility with Navy software architecture, and incorporation of the Navy's new non-propagating battery design demonstrate Leidos' understanding of customer requirements. The rapid development timeline—from concept to functional testing in one year—further indicates efficient R&D processes that could provide competitive advantages in securing future contracts.

While Leidos has established itself in maritime autonomous systems with surface vessels like Sea Hunter and Sea Hawk, the Sea Dart extends their capabilities underwater, creating a more comprehensive autonomous maritime portfolio. This positions Leidos to potentially capture larger integrated systems contracts that require both surface and subsurface capabilities.

The multiple size variants (6-inch and 9-inch diameters) with a potential 12¾-inch version suggest a family of systems approach that could address various mission requirements while maintaining common technological elements—a strategy that typically reduces lifecycle costs while increasing operational flexibility.

Defense Industry Financial Analyst

The Sea Dart UUV represents a potentially valuable addition to Leidos' maritime systems portfolio that could strengthen their competitive position in the growing unmanned maritime systems market. The defense sector increasingly prioritizes autonomous capabilities, making this a strategically aligned product launch.

The most financially significant aspect is the dramatic cost reduction of 80-90% compared to similar-capability competitors. In the defense procurement environment where budget constraints are perpetual concerns, this pricing advantage could be a powerful differentiator in contract competitions. Lower unit costs typically enable higher volume purchases, potentially expanding the total addressable market.

The product's dual-use potential for both military and commercial applications provides revenue diversification opportunities. While defense contracts often provide stability, commercial maritime applications could open additional revenue streams in oceanographic research, offshore energy infrastructure monitoring, and underwater surveying.

Leidos' development efficiency, producing functional prototypes within a year, suggests disciplined R&D expenditure with faster time-to-market than typically seen in defense systems. This accelerated development cycle could improve return on R&D investment by reducing the time between capital expenditure and revenue generation.

The Sea Dart complements Leidos' existing unmanned surface vessel portfolio, potentially creating sales synergies through integrated system offerings. Defense customers increasingly prefer comprehensive solutions rather than individual platforms, potentially positioning Leidos for larger contract opportunities combining surface and subsurface capabilities.

While specific revenue projections aren't provided, this product enhances Leidos' competitive positioning in the maritime autonomous systems segment with a disruptive price point that could expand market share in both defense and commercial sectors.

RESTON, Va., April 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Leidos announced a new capability from its sea systems team called Sea Dart, a high-performance, low-cost, flexible and adaptable uncrewed undersea vessel (UUV) designed to support the U.S. Navy and commercial customers across a broad range of missions.

"For more than two decades, Leidos has been at the forefront of supporting the U.S. Navy with cutting-edge autonomous subsurface and surface vessels," said Dave Lewis, senior vice president of Sea Systems for the company. "Sea Dart is the next step in the progressive evolution of our UUV product line, introducing a new, low-cost commercial UUV to the market. It offers the flexibility to fully customize customer payloads while staying true to our core commitment to keeping production costs significantly lower than other models."

Sea Dart currently comes in two different standard diameters, six and nine inches, and is transportable by one or two people. It is payload agnostic and compatible with the U.S. Navy's preferred Underwater Vehicle software architecture as well as the U.S. Navy's new non-propagating UUV battery design. Its high performance and low cost make it ideal for difficult missions in contested high-risk, environments and, at the other end of the spectrum, for use in scientific and research settings where low cost is paramount. A 12 ¾ inch diameter version is under consideration.

Depending on payload and configuration, Leidos' Sea Dart UUV can assist in counter-mine operations, underwater survey, undersea infrastructure configuration monitoring, battlespace preparation, environmental sensing, and other missions that benefit from proliferation of low cost, high capability UUVs. Its ability to operate at tactically relevant speeds and depths for hours while providing significant amounts of payload power translate to rapid deployment and mission flexibility.  It's low cost, up to 80-90% less than other small UUVs with similar performance, make Sea Dart an ideal option when performance and budget efficiency matter.   

With two variants that Leidos designers and engineers took from design concept to functional test in a year, Leidos' Sea Dart family of UUVs demonstrates our ability to rapidly innovate and deliver flexible, adaptable and affordable maritime solutions. Sea Dart joins an already robust autonomous Sea Systems portfolio, including our new small unmanned surface vessel (USV)—Sea Archer—and our operationally proven medium USVs—Sea Hunter, Sea Hawk, Ranger and Mariner.

About Leidos
Leidos is an industry and technology leader serving government and commercial customers with smarter, more efficient digital and mission innovations. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, with 48,000 global employees, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $16.7 billion for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2025. For more information, visit www.Leidos.com.  

Certain statements in this announcement constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). These statements are based on management's current beliefs and expectations and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. These statements are not guarantees of future results or occurrences. A number of factors could cause our actual results, performance, achievements, or industry results to be different from the results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, the "Risk Factors" set forth in Leidos' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2025, and other such filings that Leidos makes with the SEC from time to time. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Leidos does not undertake to update forward-looking statements to reflect the impact of circumstances or events that arise after the date the forward-looking statements were made.

Contact:

Mackenzie Hicks (256) 964-4034 shawna.m.hicks@leidos.com

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SOURCE Leidos

FAQ

What are the key features of Leidos (LDOS) new Sea Dart UUV system?

Sea Dart is a low-cost UUV available in 6 and 9-inch diameters, compatible with Navy software and battery systems, offering 80-90% cost savings versus competitors while maintaining tactical performance capabilities.

How much cost reduction does the Leidos Sea Dart UUV offer compared to competitors?

The Sea Dart UUV offers 80-90% cost reduction compared to other small UUVs with similar performance specifications.

What missions can the Leidos Sea Dart UUV perform?

Sea Dart can perform counter-mine operations, underwater surveys, infrastructure monitoring, battlespace preparation, and environmental sensing missions.

What size variants does the Leidos Sea Dart UUV come in?

Sea Dart currently comes in 6-inch and 9-inch diameter variants, with a 12¾ inch diameter version under consideration.

How quickly did Leidos develop the Sea Dart UUV system?

Leidos designers and engineers developed Sea Dart from design concept to functional test in one year.