Construction of Sea Hunter II

The Mississippi Gulf Coast is playing a role in the development and future of unmanned surface vessels.

- the mississippi gulf coast is - playing a role in the - development - and future of unmanned surface- vessels.- news 25's grant chighizola took- a tour of the sea hunter ii and- has - more on how it impacts our- coastal economy and national- security.

- - the future of naval operations- and maritime innovation is- happening here on the coast - with the development of an- automated unmanned- surface vessel.

- sot-bob mccummins: business are- manager, leidos - "part of the whole project righ now is how the navy can use - - - - these unmanned systems in - conjunction with the fleet.

- fortune 500 company leidos is - developing sea hunter two in- - - - part at its facility in long- beach, where much of the- engineering, simulations, and - program management- assembly takes place.

- leidos is working in conjunctio- with united states marine - incorporated to assemble the- craft.

Standup- "while the sea hunter ii will provide a critical national - security role, right now it's - being - constructed here in gulfport an- has a big local economic- impact."

Sot-barry dreyfus: ceo, united- states marine, inc.

- "you have our shop supplies, rags, absorbent rags, bathroom- materials,- all that is now another usage.- so the whole economic impact- isn't just going to jobs, it's- going to be the things we have- to buy from the community to- - - - support the building processes- and to support those jobs."

Leidos officials say the- excitement of a project like- this- helps attract and retain- employees from regional - universities like southern miss- and mississippi state as well.- sot-bob mccummins - "we do these projects of national importance.

We do all- the controls systems, - the electronics, the sensors, - and for these unmanned systems,- and it's very exciting, - so it is very easy for us to- recruit and retain you know, ou- super talented engineers."

And with six months until sea - trials on the vessel begin- here on the coast, the- possibilities that the vessel - and - it's sister sea hunter i offer- for the navy are endless.

- sot: bob mccummins- "it's really good for doing projects that are dull, - dangerous, or dirty.

So we can- keep- our sailors out of harms way."

In long beach and gulfport, - grant chighizola, news- 25.

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