The U.S. Navy intends to increase production of the Hammerhead anti-submarine mine system, according to a presolicitation notice released by the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) on March 13, 2026. The Navy plans to modify an existing contract with General Dynamics Mission Systems to facilitate the increased output.
The presolicitation notice indicates the modification will cover design, development, and production efforts for the Hammerhead system. The Navy previously awarded General Dynamics Mission Systems a contract for the program, according to a report from Defence-Blog published earlier today.
NAVSEA, the largest of the Navy’s five system commands, oversees the development and procurement of naval warfare systems. The command employs over 80,000 civilian and military personnel globally, operating in 35 activities worldwide, according to its official Facebook page.
General Dynamics Mission Systems specializes in mission-critical C4ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) solutions for land, sea, air, space, and cyber domains. The company develops technology for a range of defense systems, including ships, submarines, and aircraft, and provides services such as systems integration, and cybersecurity.
The Hammerhead system is intended to enhance the Navy’s capabilities in anti-submarine warfare. General Dynamics Mission Systems provides submarine systems, including weapon systems, combat control systems, sonar systems, and cybersecurity systems for Virginia, Ohio, and Columbia-class submarines. The company is also responsible for the strategic weapons systems and subsystems for the Columbia-class Ballistic Missile Submarines currently under development.
The Navy’s increased focus on anti-submarine mines comes as maritime security concerns continue to evolve. General Dynamics Mission Systems also produces unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) designed for intelligence gathering, mine-hunting, and scientific exploration, including the Bluefin-9, Bluefin-12, and Bluefin-21 models.
As of March 14, 2026, the specific details of the contract modification, including the quantity of mines to be produced and the associated funding, have not been publicly disclosed. NAVSEA has not yet responded to requests for further comment.
