VideoRay awarded $92.6 million U.S. Navy contract
VideoRay of Pottstown has been awarded a $92.6 million contract with the U.S. Navy to provide underwater robotics systems. This photo shows one of VideoRay’s Defender Remotely Operated (ROV) vehicles. (Photo Courtesy VideoRay)
POTTSTOWN — VideoRay LLC, a growing defense technology company headquartered in Pottstown, has been awarded a five-year defense contract for the continuous production, sustainment, and development of its MK20 Defender Remotely Operated Vehicle platform to support the US Navy’s Maritime Expeditionary Standoff Response.
The $92.6 million contract provides access to VideoRay’s Mission Specialist family of underwater robotics systems to support the Navy’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal Underwater Response Vehicle program. It provides for the delivery and support of the Navy’s next-generation Remotely Operated Vehicles that will be used to conduct critical undersea missions and includes hardware, software, repairs, training, technical assist visits, and ancillary components for VideoRay’s ROV platform.
“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,” VideoRay CEO Chris Gibson said in a statement. “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.”
He added that VideoRay looks forward to continuing its partnership with the Navy, and the company’s partners to advance its technology and capabilities to meet the needs of defense and commercial customers.
The MK20 Defender ROV is based on VideoRay’s Mission Specialist Defender and is a “highly robust, man-portable, expeditionary ROV that offers modularity and an open architecture design that allows for the easy integration of third-party sensors, software applications, and versatile, field-swappable payload options to meet the Navy’s expanding needs for expeditionary mine countermeasure operations,” a press release stated.
The Mission Specialist Defender is designed and built in Pottstown and is serviced from VideoRay’s Pottstown and San Diego, Calif. offices. It has become the cornerstone of VideoRay’s Mission Specialist family of products, the company said, adding that the products have a growing number of domestic and international defense and commercial customers.
VideoRay’s five-year contract with the Navy is referred to as an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity — or IDIQ contract.
According to the defense department contract award, 99% of work will be performed in Pottstown and at various locations throughout the U.S., with 1% of work being done overseas.
The contract will have a five-year ordering period, and work is expected to be completed by May 2029. The contract is administered by Naval Information Warfare Command, Pacific.
Core technology onboard the MK20 Defender ROV platform has been developed by industry partners, the company said. All of the core technology combines to “significantly expand vehicle capabilities while maintaining the size, weight and power (SWAP) specifications required to meet the Navy’s challenging requirements,” the company said.
VideoRay’s Mission Specialist underwater robotic systems have redefined the “inspection class” ROV category. The systems can operate at significant depths for hours, days, or even months at a time, the company said. Mission Specialist robots are used around the world to support national security, first responders, object search and recovery, infrastructure examination and science and research.
