Japan Orders Over a Dozen HII REMUS 300 Underwater Vehicles
Tokyo-headquartered Hitachi has requested Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) deliver over a dozen REMUS 300 small uncrewed undersea vehicles (SUUVs).
The multi-year contract occurs within the context of a longstanding defense relationship between the US and Japan.
It has not been stated whether the contract has been awarded on behalf of the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force.
“This procurement represents a key sale milestone for the REMUS 300 commercial program,” president of the Uncrewed Systems group at HII’s Mission Technologies division, Duane Fotheringham, said.
“We greatly appreciate the confidence Hitachi has placed in us. The success of our commercial REMUS 300 vehicles is a result of our work in the international markets and the high confidence our customers place in REMUS products.
These vehicles deliver critical mine-hunting capabilities and flexible payload options to our allies and partners.”
REMUS 300
Picked by the US Navy for its Lionfish program, the platform’s modular design allows rapid payload integration, enabling mission-specific configurations and future upgrades.
The REMUS 300 can operate at a depth of 305 meters (1,001 feet) for up to 30 hours and is being powered by a 4.5-kilowatt-hour Lithium-ion battery.
It has a top speed of 5 knots (9 kilometers/6 miles per hour) and a range of 165 kilometers (102 miles).
Other battery options of 1.5 kilowatt-hour and 3.0 kilowatt-hour reduce the platform’s overall performance.
The 2.03-meter (6.66 feet) SUUV can be paired with crewed platforms, such as submarines, for enhanced mission range and reduced detection risk.
REMUS 300’s mission envelope includes mine countermeasures, search and recovery, rapid environmental assessment, and intelligence, reconnaissance, and surveillance.
