US-based military shipbuilder HII has expanded its portfolio of autonomous maritime systems with the delivery of the first REMUS 130 uncrewed underwater vehicle (UUV).
The REMUS 130, a third generation in the REMUS 100 series, is the latest addition to the REMUS family.
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In a 17 June release, the company stated that the new vehicle is designed to meet increasing demand for “affordable and adaptable” autonomous underwater systems.
Built on the same technology as the REMUS 300 and REMUS 620 models, REMUS 130 can be carried by a two-person team.
The UUV can operate at depths reaching 100 metres and is capable of up to 10 hours of endurance per mission, with battery packs that can be replaced in the field to support increased operational time.
HII confirmed that the vehicle features new electronics, an open-architecture interface, and flexible options for payload integration, aiming to address growing demand for cost-effective, adaptable autonomous underwater systems.
The new UUV features HII’s Odyssey Autonomous Control System (ACS), which manages navigation, communications, processing, and can incorporate commercial or government-developed payloads efficiently.
The company has stated that the Odyssey ACS functions through an open architecture designed to facilitate ongoing updates, while also managing operational expenses and limiting technology risks.
Odyssey ACS is already deployed on REMUS platforms across more than 30 countries. Its capabilities support collaborative autonomy, sensor integration and improved perception across various vehicles, sensors and mission assignments, according to HII.
The REMUS 130 can be deployed in ocean research and data gathering, infrastructure inspection for the offshore energy sector, search and rescue, mine countermeasures, environmental monitoring, and seabed mapping.
HII Mission Technologies division Unmanned Systems group president Duane Fotheringham said: “The delivery of the first REMUS 130 represents an important step in the continued evolution of the REMUS family.”
HII has already delivered over 750 REMUS vehicles globally, with REMUS systems in use by 14 Nato navies for roles across defence, commercial, and scientific sectors.
In January this year, HII completed the shipboard deployment and retrieval of a REMUS autonomous UUV using its automated Sea Launcher system.
