VideoRay has been awarded a five-year indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract to support the continued production and development of the MK20 Defender Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) platform for the U.S. Navy.
The MK20 Defender, based on VideoRay’s Mission Specialist Defender, is a rugged, man-portable, expeditionary ROV. It features a modular and open-architecture design, enabling seamless integration of third-party sensors, software applications, and field-swappable payloads to meet the Navy’s evolving needs in expeditionary mine countermeasure operations.
Key onboard technologies have been developed in collaboration with industry partners and include: EOD Workspace control software and autonomy platform by Greensea IQ; multibeam sonar and USBL positioning system by BluePrint Subsea; Doppler Velocity Log (DVL) for navigation by Nortek; and a two-function manipulator by Eddyfi. These technologies enhance operational capability while maintaining the size, weight, and power (SWaP) requirements essential to the Navy’s mission objectives.
The contract provides access to VideoRay’s Mission Specialist family of underwater robotic systems to support both the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Underwater Response Vehicle initiative and the Maritime Expeditionary Standoff Response (MESR) program of record.
Administered by the Naval Information Warfare Command, Pacific, the agreement enables the delivery and support of advanced ROVs for critical undersea missions in support of naval operations.
Designed and manufactured in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, and supported from facilities in Pottstown and San Diego, California, the Mission Specialist Defender has become a key asset in VideoRay’s product line, serving a growing base of defense and commercial customers worldwide.
Chris Gibson, Chief Executive Officer of VideoRay, stated, “This production contract with the U.S. Navy marks an exciting new chapter for VideoRay, acknowledging the dedication and hard work of our team to achieve this significant milestone.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with the Navy and to receive valuable feedback, which has been instrumental in continuously enhancing our next-generation Expeditionary EOD and MCM systems to meet the fleet’s requirements. We look forward to continuing our partnership with the U.S. Navy, along with our partners to advance our technology and capabilities to meet the needs of our defense and commercial customers alike worldwide.”
