HII and Shield AI have completed the initial major test of their integrated autonomy solution on the former’s ROMULUS uncrewed surface vessel (USV).
The announcement, made during the Indo Pacific International Maritime Exposition, marks a major step towards operational deployment of the AI-enabled ROMULUS fleet.
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The three-day test was conducted in Virginia Beach, Virginia, late in October 2025. It integrated Shield AI’s Hivemind autonomy software with HII’s Odyssey autonomy suite using the Hivemind Enterprise software development kit (SDK) on a ROMULUS 20 USV.
According to the companies, this event represented the first maritime deployment of Hivemind, a software that provides AI-powered mission autonomy across multiple domains.
The demonstration took place less than six weeks after the two defence technology firms publicly announced their partnership.
The trial demonstrated the integration of technology that enables unmanned systems to carry out complex missions without relying on GPS or communications links.
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By GlobalDataHII mission technologies division president Andy Green said: “This collaboration between HII and Shield AI showcases how adaptable autonomy frameworks can accelerate development.
“Using the Hivemind Enterprise SDK, our teams integrated capabilities quickly and effectively. The successful deployment on ROMULUS 20 validates the power of this partnership and paves the way for even greater autonomy across the ROMULUS fleet.”
The Hivemind software has already been used in aerial operations and, through this partnership, is now being introduced into maritime applications.
The companies indicated that leveraging both Hivemind and Odyssey within the ROMULUS platform will support rapid development and deployment of autonomous capabilities for unmanned vessels.
ROMULUS represents a modular USV platform constructed on hulls that meet commercial standards to facilitate quick production and allow for a range of operational roles.
The lead ship of this class, ROMULUS 190, currently in build, is designed to exceed speeds of 25 knots and cover distances up to 2,500 nautical miles.
The ship is expected to be equipped with both Odyssey and Hivemind systems and to be capable of carrying four 40-foot ISO containers.
The companies aim for these systems to allow the ROMULUS fleet to operate jointly with crewed strike groups and surface action groups, as well as enable multi-agent autonomy and intelligent vessel operations.
Shield AI chief technology officer and Hivemind business unit head Nathan Michael said: “Through close collaboration with HII and the shared use of Shield AI’s modular, open architecture SDK, we integrated advanced maritime capabilities in less than six weeks — work that typically takes months or years. We look forward to continuing to expand multi-domain autonomy together.”
Also in October 2025 a collaborative effort involving HII, the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), and the US Navy’s Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division Newport successfully retrieved a REMUS 620 uncrewed undersea vehicle (UUV).
