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Underwater ROVs Selected for US Navy Maritime Expeditionary Standoff Response Program

With this order, the US Navy continues its efforts to procure and equip Explosive Ordnance Disposal units with the Mission Specialist Defender as the base platform for the MK20 Defender ROV program By Caroline Rees / 04 May 2023
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Mission Specialist Defender ROV
US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Ryan Seelbach

The US Navy has awarded underwater technology company VideoRay a contract for the provision of Mission Specialist Defender underwater Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) and related components for the Maritime Expeditionary Standoff Response (MESR) program. 

This latest $16.1 million order brings the US Navy’s total procurement of Mission Specialist Defender vehicles and accessories to $49 million since it entered into a Production-Other Transaction Agreement (P-OTA) with the company.

With this order, the US Navy continues its efforts to procure and equip Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) units with the Mission Specialist Defender as the base platform for the MK20 Defender ROV program, which uses advanced technology provided by these ROVs to locate and neutralize underwater mines.

“VideoRay is proud to continue to serve our US Navy customers and to have been chosen as the production partner for the MESR program,” said Chris Gibson, VideoRay’s Chief Executive Officer. “The Mission Specialist Defender, from which the US Navy’s MK20 Defender ROV derives, offers modularity and an open systems architecture allowing easy integration of 3rd-party sensors and payloads. Our product provides our customers with industry-leading performance in size, weight, and power for its class with a proven record of reliability. And all of this is delivered in a man-portable package capable of performing a variety of demanding missions in the most challenging underwater environments.”

With the MESR Program, the Navy plans to upgrade the baseline vehicle with incremental updates to sensors, autonomy, tools and manipulators in order to provide enhanced capability to the EOD operator, further increasing standoff and decreasing risk. 

Among the uses of the US Navy’s fielded Mission Specialist Defender units was the recovery of a downed high-altitude balloon off the coast of South Carolina. For critical missions like this, or locating and rendering safe underwater mines, VideoRay believes the Defender’s portability, power, versatility, and reliability are unmatched.

VideoRay has established a growing network of authorized dealers and service centers to support international and commercial sales and offers an extensive online knowledge base with training materials and helpful references for all its products. 

The company offers training from its headquarters in Pottstown, PA, and support facility in San Diego, CA, along with mobile training teams capable of providing services to customers around the world.

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Posted by Caroline Rees Caroline co-founded Unmanned Systems Technology and has been at the forefront of the business ever since. With a Masters Degree in marketing Caroline has her finger on the pulse of all things unmanned and is committed to showcasing the very latest in unmanned technical innovation. Connect & Contact