The US Navy has selected Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) REMUS 300 unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) for the next-generation small UUV program.
In the program’s initial stage, the UUV will undergo production and testing for the next year.
The small UUV program is an upgrade on the Mk18 Mod 1 Swordfish program, which was platformed on the Remus 100 UUV.
Most Advanced Small UUV
The REMUS 300 has been chosen through a two-year rapid prototyping effort that involved multiple user evaluations. It has also gone through a “spiral development” process for design refinement.
It has an endurance of 30 hours and can dive 305 meters (1,001 feet) deep, performing a range of underwater missions such as mine countermeasures, naval warfare, and environmental assessments.
“The REMUS 300 is the most advanced small UUV on the market and will provide capabilities that are essential to the Navy mission,” said Andy Green, executive vice president of HII and president of HII’s Mission Technologies division.
Man-Portable, Modular Design
The vehicle features a man-portable compact design, incorporating “advanced modularity and open architecture.”
“REMUS UUVs have been extending the capabilities of the warfighter since they were first used in combat during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003,” said Duane Fotheringham, president of the unmanned systems business group in HII’s Mission Technologies division.
“We’ve been enhancing, maturing, and refining this technology since then, and are pleased the REMUS 300 meets needs for the Navy’s next-generation UUV program.”