According to information published by the US DoD on September 29, 2023, MSI-Defence Systems has been granted a contract worth $29,263,267 for the supply of the MK 48 Mod 2 Electro-Optical Sight (EOS).
This electro-optic system is associated with the 30mm Mk38 Mod4 gun weapon system.
As far as we know, the first Coast Guard ships to get the Mk38 Mod 4 will be the Polar Security Cutters. I am hoping we will see the weapon on some of the Offshore Patrol Cutters.
I found it interesting that this contract provides not only for the Navy and Coast Guard but also the Military Sealift Command, because, currently, none of their ships have installed weapon systems.
“This initiative is in line with the enhancement of the MK 38 Mod 4 Machine Gun System, which will benefit the Navy, Coast Guard, and Military Sealift Command.”


I was looking at the types of vessels used by the Military Sealift Command (MSC), and I’m guessing that the types of MSC vessels the Navy might want to install these on might include the Spearhead-class expeditionary fast transports, which some have suggested could be used as amphibious assault ships (but currently only have four .50 caliber mounts), or the Large, Medium-Speed Roll-on/Roll-off (LMSR) ships such as the Watson-class vehicle cargo ships (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watson-class_vehicle_cargo_ship). I feel a personal connection to the Watson-class and the USNS Watson (T-AKR-310) due to my family name!
By Navy policy, USNS i.e. non-commissioned ships can not carry offensive weapons. For now they only have mounts for smaller weapons such as HMGs and MANPADs. But Congress has told the USN to put more and better self-defense weapons on MSC ships especially those which will operate in Contested Environments.
Consider the MSI words as more a sales wish~