The Modular Unmanned Surface Craft Littoral (MUSCL) was created at the direction Program Executive Office Littoral Combat Ship (PEO LCS) at the U.S. Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division in collaboration with NSWC Carderock Division. MUSCL is a two man-portable vessel designed to be carried aboard the U.S. Navy's Riverine Patrol Boat (RPB) and Riverine Assault Craft (RAC). MUSCL's primary mission is Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconaissance (ISR) in the riverine environment. The first three unmanned surface vessels were delivered to the U.S. Navy's Riverine Group ONE, on 1 November 2012. The 6-foot long, 85-pound USVs were built by the Navy at a cost of $700,000 each.
In October 2012, Rolls-Royce was awarded a contract to develop an improved 100mm water jet part for MUSCL as part of a Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) project led by Candent Technologies, Inc.
Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City capabilities video.
MUSCL propulsion trials in February 2011.