HII, a global leader in autonomous underwater vehicles, has successfully demonstrated shipboard deployment and recovery of a REMUS UUV using its automated Sea Launcher system. This milestone advances manned-unmanned teaming for maritime missions and showcases HII’s ability to integrate mature automation into ship-ready platforms, including the ROMULUS family of unmanned surface vessels (USVs).
Recent testing validated key aspects of a fully autonomous launch‑and‑recovery sequence under real‑world conditions. The procedure, already proven across U.S. Navy and allied operations, reduces risk to sailors, extends mission range, and shortens timelines—especially critical in contested or high‑sea‑state environments.
“REMUS has successfully performed autonomous line capture for years,” said Duane Fotheringham, president of HII’s Unmanned Systems group. “This demonstration shows how seamlessly that capability integrates with automated launch and recovery onboard manned or unmanned vessels.”
Trusted by more than 30 navies for mine countermeasures, undersea survey, intelligence collection, and environmental sensing, REMUS features modular design and open architecture. It can operate independently or alongside crewed ships, USVs, and other undersea platforms.
HII plans to further integrate REMUS with its new ROMULUS USV family and a range of manned and unmanned vessels to support evolving U.S. and allied naval requirements.
