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HII has delivered the first Lionfish small unmanned underwater systems to the US Navy as part of a government contract signed in 2023.
The tranche covers the initial two of nine vehicles ordered in support of the force’s program to adopt next-generation autonomous subsurface systems.
The contract is worth more than $347 million and has an option to deliver 200 more drones through 2028.
In addition to the platforms, the firm is providing engineering services and afloat and auxiliary support equipment for the navy.
Assembly of the systems is ongoing at the firm’s Uncrewed Systems center in Pocasset, Massachusetts.
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‘Key Milestone’
According to HII, the Lionfish will address “critical undersea warfare needs” of the US Navy, providing independent or manned-unmanned teaming operations with other platforms such as the Virginia-class submarines to decrease personnel risk, counter enemy detection, and extend mission range.
“This delivery represents a key milestone in the Lionfish program,” HII Mission Technologies – Uncrewed Systems President Duane Fotheringham stated.
“The success and on-time delivery of Lionfish is the product of close collaboration between the government and industry team that will put a critical mine hunting capability in the hands of sailors and marines in an operationally relevant time frame.”
The Lionfish Drone
HII’s Lionfish is based on the company’s flagship Remus 300 small uncrewed undersea vehicle, which is designed with open architecture and payload integrations for current and future mission requirements.
It can dive to 1,000 feet (305 meters) and travels at a speed of 5 knots (6 miles/9 kilometers per hour).
The 7.5-foot (2.3-meter) drone weighs 123 pounds (56 kilograms), has a diameter of 7.5 inches (19 centimeters), and has an endurance of up to 30 hours.
At sea, the system can support deployments such as mine countermeasures, anti-submarine warfare, search and recovery, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, and environmental studies.
Selection of the Remus 300 for the Lionfish program was confirmed in 2022 after an evaluation to replace the US Navy’s Swordfish underwater drone fleet, which included units built after HII’s Remus 100 model.