HII Expands UK Operations to Support Growing European UUV Demand

Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) has significantly expanded its operations in the United Kingdom, doubling the size of its facility in Portchester. This strategic move aims to enhance the company’s capacity to produce unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) for the Royal Navy and other European navies. The expansion reflects HII’s commitment to meeting the rising demand for advanced maritime technology in Western and Northern Europe.

The newly enlarged facility will primarily focus on assembling the Remus 620, a medium-class modular UUV. According to Nick Green, the facility manager, this development will also facilitate accelerated training for allied navies. Increasing technological maturity has led to greater confidence among navies in placing larger orders, with recent trends showing orders of up to 15 units, compared to the previous standard of one or two.

Growing Demand for Unmanned Systems

European NATO members, including the United Kingdom, Netherlands, and Belgium, are transitioning from traditional crewed minehunter vessels to unmanned systems for mine detection and neutralization. “The demand is there, the requirements are there as the technology is improving, the sensors are improving and the capabilities are improving,” Green stated, emphasizing the potential for market growth in this sector.

The Royal Navy first acquired two Remus vehicles in 2001 for mine warfare, and the fleet has since expanded to include various models. The new facility will enable HII to fulfill its maintenance obligations to the Royal Navy, which currently operates Remus systems alongside those used by 30 countries, including 14 NATO members. Other European users of Remus vehicles include Germany, Norway, Sweden, Lithuania, and Estonia.

HII has noted a “robust interest” in mine countermeasures, driven by increased defense budgets and a focus on investing in unmanned systems. Duane Fotheringham, president of HII’s Unmanned Systems group, highlighted the company’s preparedness to face rising competition in the UUV market. The open architecture of Remus drones allows for updates in both software and hardware, with various partners contributing sensors and payloads.

Future of Unmanned Maritime Operations

While the primary application of UUVs for U.K. and European clients is mine countermeasures, the potential for long-range patrols is gaining relevance. This capability is crucial for addressing evolving seabed warfare requirements, particularly concerning the protection of critical infrastructure. Green mentioned that the payloads being developed for the Remus vehicles aim to enhance future capabilities in this domain.

HII plans to increase local production in the U.K. whenever feasible, including the launch and recovery systems for the Remus 620, as well as basic assembly of the vehicles themselves. “We believe that U.K. content for U.K. contracts is more and more important,” Green said, noting that this approach reinforces HII’s position as a mature supplier of UUVs and unmanned surface vehicles (USVs).

The Portchester facility will also serve as a European support base for the upcoming Romulus family of unmanned surface vehicles. HII is currently testing various versions of Romulus, including an intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance platform. The company aims to deliver a 190-foot Romulus vessel by the end of 2026, with plans to showcase these systems to the Royal Navy and other European naval customers.

HII has delivered more than 750 UUVs from the Remus family, with over 400 units of the two-man portable Remus 100 model sold globally. The company is focused on minimizing equipment transportation between the U.S. and Europe, conducting most repair and maintenance work for U.K. and other European customers at the Portchester site. This localized approach is expected to enhance operational efficiency and responsiveness in servicing its growing client base.