Mystery client orders REMUS 620 UUV from HII

US defence company HII has received an order for a REMUS 620 unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) from an international client in the Indo-Pacific Region.

The customized, medium-class REMUS 620 UUV will be built and delivered in 2024 by HII’s Mission Technologies division and will be used for monitoring and data collection missions.

Unveiled in 2022, the REMUS 620 has a battery life of up to 110 hours and a range of 275 nautical miles, providing capabilities for mine countermeasures, hydrographic surveys, intelligence collection, surveillance and electronic warfare.

The REMUS 620 achieved two significant development milestones in 2023 with a successful in-water test in October and first sea test in December. In November 2022, HII unveiled the design of the new UUV.

“The REMUS 620 is the premier medium-class UUV designed for adaptability, versatility and long range operations,” said Duane Fotheringham, president of Mission Technologies’ Unmanned Systems business group.

“Its adaptability to a wide range of missions, from oceanographic research to defense operations, showcases the innovative spirit of our team and the advanced capabilities of our technology.”

This is the second REMUS 620 order. In August 2023, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced the order of two REMUS 620 UUVs for higher-resolution mapping of the Gulf of Mexico and NOAA’s effort to restore the seafloor habitats damaged by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

The agency has previously used other REMUS models for habitat characterization, marine archeology and other ocean mapping and exploration activities.