HII, in partnership with MetalCraft Marine, has delivered and sea-tested two unmanned surface vessels (USVs) awarded under a Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) contract for smaller-form-factor autonomous boat prototypes for the US Marine Corps.
The two ROMULUS-25 autonomous USVs were delivered in December 2025 and supported successful testing and demonstration of advanced autonomous mission behaviors at sea.
The ROMULUS-25 is an 8.2-meter high-speed interceptor vessel designed to deliver up to 1,000 pounds of payload with a range of up to 1,000 nautical miles.
Fully capable of autonomous operation, the vessel is powered by HII’s Odyssey AI-based autonomy system, which integrates multiple sensors and effectors to enable coordinated, cross-domain maritime operations in support of the US Marine Corps and allied nations.
Over the past five years, Odyssey autonomy has been validated through more than 2,200 hours of autonomous operations during government-led tests and exercises.
Odyssey autonomy has been deployed on more than 30 platforms, accumulating over 12,000 hours of successful at-sea operations. Its modular open systems architecture (MOSA), service-based design enables integration with the HII Minotaur targeting network.
“Successfully delivering on this prototype contract with the Defense Innovation Unit and the U.S. Marine Corps is a strong recognition of HII’s deep experience and the maturity of our proven autonomous technologies,” said Andy Green , executive vice president of HII and president of HII’s Mission Technologies division.
“The ROMULUS-25, powered by our Odyssey autonomy suite, builds on thousands of hours of successful at-sea operations and demonstrates how scalable, AI-enabled unmanned systems can extend the reach, endurance, and effectiveness of naval forces.”
The ROMULUS-25 is part of HII’s broader family of USVs, which range from 2.1-meter micro-USVs to the ROMULUS-190, a 58-meter aluminum USV capable of carrying multiple containerized payloads.