US subsea robotics specialist Greensea IQ has been awarded a USD 5.36 million (EUR 5.1 million) contract to deliver customised Bayonet 250 amphibious underwater ground vehicles (AUGVs) for the US Marine Corps’ (USMC’s) Littoral Explosive Ordnance Neutralization (LEON) project.
The contract was issued through the US Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) and US firm Darley, which provides training and material support to the US military.
The Bayonet 250 ‘surf zone crawler’, part of Greensea IQ’s Bayonet series of AUGVs, “exceeds the stringent mission criteria of the LEON project, which focuses on advanced explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) capabilities in littoral environments”, Greensea stated in a press release. Designed for robust operations in both shallow water and surf zones, the Bayonet 250 provides autonomous capabilities for mine and explosive threat neutralisation, supporting the USMC’s modernisation efforts for safer and more effective EOD operations.
The LEON project is a critical component of the USMC’s ‘robotic revolution’ strategy for operating in global littorals, which seeks to enhance safety for personnel while increasing operational efficiency.
“This award reinforces Greensea IQ’s commitment to supporting the US Marine Corps with cutting-edge robotic solutions for complex and hazardous environments,” Paco Santana, vice president for defence business development at Greensea IQ, was quoted as saying in a company press release, adding, “The customised Bayonet 250 will provide a versatile, autonomous platform for explosive ordnance disposal in challenging littoral zones.”
