U.S. military shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) has delivered the first REMUS 130 unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV), a major milestone for one of the world’s most widely used autonomous underwater systems.

The delivery, announced Tuesday, brings the newest generation of the REMUS platform—a family of underwater drones that has supported naval, scientific, and commercial missions worldwide for over 25 years. Built by HII, this vehicle improves on the REMUS 100 series with better electronics, modular payloads, and an open-architecture design.

A new chapter for the REMUS fleet

The REMUS 130 is the third generation of the successful REMUS 100 platform. It keeps the main features that made earlier models popular, such as being easy to use, reliable, and effective for missions.

According to HII, the system is designed for more interoperability and flexibility, while still working with other REMUS models. It also shares its technology base with the larger REMUS 300 and REMUS 620 systems.

“The delivery of the first REMUS 130 represents an important step in the continued evolution of the REMUS family,” stated Duane Fotheringham, president of the Unmanned Systems group in HII’s Mission Technologies division.

“For decades, customers have relied on REMUS vehicles for their durability, ease of operation and proven performance. REMUS 130 builds on that legacy with a highly capable, modular platform that delivers greater flexibility, interoperability and value while leveraging common architecture across the REMUS fleet.”

Compact design built for rapid deployment

A main feature of the REMUS 130 is its portability. The company said a two-person team can transport and deploy the vehicle, allowing operators to quickly start missions without requiring large support equipment.

The UUV can operate to depths of up to 328 feet (100 meters) and remain underwater for up to 10 hours during a mission. Its batteries can be swapped in the field to cut downtime and keep missions on schedule.

The compact design targets organizations that need an underwater vehicle they can deploy quickly, while still supporting many types of sensors and mission packages. This could appeal to military, scientific, and commercial users working in remote areas.

Powered by advanced autonomous technology

The REMUS 130 uses HII’s Odyssey Autonomous Control System (ACS), a software setup already used on REMUS platforms in over 30 countries.

The system integrates navigation, communications, processing, and autonomous decision-making into a single framework. Its open design lets operators add commercial, government, or custom payloads without major redesign.

The firm pointed out that Odyssey ACS supports advanced features such as collaborative autonomy, sensor fusion, and enhanced environmental awareness. The system is also built to lower long-term costs and help the vehicle adapt to new mission needs over time.

Expanding roles beneath the surface

The REMUS 130 is designed for many types of underwater work. It can be used for ocean research, environmental monitoring, mapping the seabed, inspecting offshore energy sites, search-and-rescue, and mine countermeasures.

With the REMUS 130, HII’s autonomous maritime lineup now includes over 750 REMUS vehicles delivered worldwide. The company said 14 NATO navies use REMUS systems, which have built a strong reputation in defense, science, and commercial fields.

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