Leidos demonstrates autonomous naval capabilities at Defender Europe 21
(RESTON, Va.) July 27, 2021 – Leidos (NYSE: LDOS), a FORTUNE® 500 science and technology leader, today announced it recently participated in the Joint Logistics Over-The-Shore exercise (JLOTS). The successful demonstration marked the first time an autonomous landing craft was deployed as part of a NATO exercise outside the continental United States.
JLOTS was conducted in support of DEFENDER-Europe 21 in Albania. Leidos showcased its next generation capabilities as part of Autonomous Littoral Connector (ALC), a Marine Corps Warfighting Lab program. The ALC program - an extension of the Sea Hunter and Seahawk autonomous vessels – has an autonomous LCM-8 and LCU currently part of the Navy’s Assault Craft Unit TWO.
ALC’s participation in the JLOTS exercise for DEFENDER-Europe 21 was the first demonstration of its ship-to-shore capabilities in an international forum. JLOTS is a joint Army-Navy exercise involving the movement of vehicles, supplies and other warfighting equipment for the rapid deployment of combat-capable forces. By participating in the event, Leidos was able to augment the LCM-8’s existing mission with its autonomous capabilities.
By operating autonomously as part of a deployed littoral group, the ALC program demonstrated its current and future advancements as new autonomous capabilities are added to the LCM-8 and the LCU. During the exercise, the vessel autonomously beached and was remotely moored by a sailor to the roll-on-roll-off deployment facility. It also autonomously transported a load from the Sealift Command ship to the pier. The mission control system in the events command tent monitored and tasked the craft while providing situational awareness back to the group running the event.
The event is the latest stage in the continued development of autonomous littoral capabilities. Following the exercise, preparations will take place for the deployment of ALC’s autonomous LCU with a Marine Expeditionary Unit.
About Leidos
Leidos is a Fortune 500® information technology, engineering, and science solutions and services leader working to solve the world’s toughest challenges in the defense, intelligence, civil, and health markets. The company’s 40,000 employees support vital missions for government and commercial customers. Headquartered in Reston, Va., Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $12.3 billion for the fiscal year ended January 1, 2021. For more information, visit www.Leidos.com.
