Navy's unmanned MEDUSA prototype demonstration completed

The Navy has completed a prototyping effort for the MEDUSA unmanned undersea vehicle, capable of offensive mining capabilities via submarine.

"Lessons learned from the prototype and demonstration will inform a program start in fiscal year 2022 and potential contract award in fiscal year 2023," Navy spokesman Alan Baribeau said in a statement to Inside Defense.

Earlier this year, the Navy told Congress the MEDUSA prototype system would be demonstrated "using dummy payloads via an in-water launch from a host submarine."

While the demonstration has been completed, the Navy is still "very early in the process," Baribeau said.

He declined to provide further information on where and when the demonstration took place.