HII has unveiled strategies to broaden its production methodology for uncrewed surface vessels, encompassing a novel assembly plant in Louisiana and a robotics-driven manufacturing initiative aimed at escalating output and diminishing build durations, as reported by the firm.
The envisioned plant at Breaux Brothers Enterprises in New Iberia is designed to facilitate the sequential fabrication of the ROMULUS line of autonomous maritime craft, which span approximately 20 feet to 190 feet in length. The location is being structured around mechanized operations, sophisticated equipment, and standardized operational sequences, with the objective of producing diverse vessel models through a unified manufacturing approach.
HII affirms that this transition reflects a wider departure from prototype-led construction towards repeatable, scalable production. The company anticipates this will lower individual expenses and shorten delivery timelines while concurrently enabling greater manufacturing volumes aligned with the market requirement for autonomous marine systems.
“ROMULUS is conceived from its inception for high volume,” remarked Andy Green, who serves as the head of HII’s Mission Technologies segment. “By combining a custom-designed assembly line with automation and robust sector collaborations, we are fostering consistent manufacturing results and reducing the expenditure of uncrewed surface vessels. This enables us to provide functionality more rapidly and in quantities matching fleet demands.”
Concurrent with the plant enlargement, HII has inaugurated its High-Yield Production Robotics (HYPR) program, which centers on incorporating robotics and digital systems into the marine construction workflow. The undertaking is projected to merge robotic welding, automated material handling, and digitally enabled quality assurance into a sequential production framework customized for ROMULUS fabrication.
The firm intends to conduct feasibility trials with collaborators during 2026, with the objective of initiating a pilot scheme in early 2027. HYPR is anticipated to facilitate concurrent hull construction and decrease labor hours, whilst ensuring uniform output across different vessel categories.
“HYPR applies next-generation industrial robotics to shipbuilding processes that have traditionally been labor-intensive and challenging to automate,” stated Eric Chewning, executive vice president of maritime systems and corporate strategy at HII. “For ROMULUS, this means fewer labor hours per hull, enhanced schedule predictability, and a manufacturing model that can scale efficiently as volumes increase.”
HII is collaborating with associates including Breaux Brothers Enterprises and Incat Crowther to harmonize vessel design with production tooling and facility layout. The intention is to implement commercial manufacturing practices for the assembly of autonomous naval platforms.
The ROMULUS line itself is designed as a modular system capable of undertaking diverse missions, encompassing intelligence gathering, mine countermeasures, strike operations, and the deployment of other uncrewed systems. The craft incorporate HII’s Odyssey Autonomous Control System, which the company asserts facilitates sustained open-ocean operations and coordinated multi-vessel activity.
An experimental craft is presently undergoing fabrication at the Louisiana establishment.