The US Navy has taken delivery of the first two small uncrewed undersea vehicles (SUUVs) from Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) for the Lionfish system programme.
This delivery is part of a multi-year programme that could see the US Navy acquire up to 200 SUUVs, with a potential contract value exceeding $347m.
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Based on HII’s REMUS 300 platform, the Lionfish System is engineered for multi-mission adaptability through a modular, open-architecture design.
The programme, developed in collaboration with the US Navy and the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), aims to accelerate the integration of dual-use commercial technologies into the Department of Defense’s operations.
This initiative marks the Navy’s first transition from an other transaction prototype to full-scale production, with the Lionfish being the first and only cyber-compliant uncrewed underwater vehicle.
Mission Technologies uncrewed systems business group president Duane Fotheringham said: “This delivery represents a key milestone in the Lionfish programme.
“The success and on-time delivery of Lionfish is the product of close collaboration between the government and industry team that will put a critical mine hunting capability in the hands of sailors and marines in an operationally relevant time frame.”
Production of the Lionfish is currently underway at HII’s uncrewed systems facility in Pocasset. The Lionfish system programme contract was awarded to HII in 2023.
The Lionfish supports vital undersea warfare needs, including mine countermeasures, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR), anti-submarine warfare, and electronic warfare.
The REMUS family of UUVs is known for its significant contributions to modern naval operations, capable of operating independently or alongside crewed platforms, such as Virginia-class nuclear submarines. These capabilities enhance mission scope, minimise detection risks, and reduce personnel exposure.
The open-architecture design of the REMUS allows for rapid payload integration, facilitating mission-specific configurations and future technology insertions, which are essential for maintaining operational relevance and cost efficiency over time.
HII has delivered more than 700 REMUS vehicles to more than 30 countries, including 14 Nato members.
