General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems has been awarded a contract to develop and produce an advanced permanent-magnet propulsion motor for the US Navy's Large Displacement Unmanned Undersea Vehicle (LDUUV) programme. 

The LDUUV is planned be launched from a Virginia-class attack submarine or from surface ships and will be used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions as well as electronic warfare, mine warfare, mine countermeasures, anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface warfare operations. 

A permanent-magnet propulsion gives high-efficiency performance over the entire operating range, significantly cutting back on fuel consumption and maintenance costs.