US Navy Validates REMUS 620 Drone for Torpedo Tube Deployment
A joint team from Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII), Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, and the US Navy has confirmed the compatibility of the REMUS 620 unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) with Virginia-class submarine weapons handling and torpedo tube systems.
The milestone was achieved following the HII drone completing an end-to-end dry checkout of the Shock and Fire Enclosure Capsule (SAFECAP) within the Virginia-class Cradle Payload Integration Facility and its Mk71 torpedo tube.
SAFECAP monitors the UUV’s lithium-ion battery health during launch and recovery.
The validation paves the way for the medium-sized unmanned vehicle to undergo in-water end-to-end launch and recovery testing at a US Navy facility later this summer.
Submarine Capability Extension
Robotic vehicles enable submarines to carry out underwater missions such as intelligence gathering, surveillance, and mine detection from a standoff distance.
Currently, deployment occurs via a removable module known as a dry deck shelter, which requires human intervention.
Only a limited number of Virginia- and Ohio-class submarines are equipped to carry these modules, which are primarily used for deploying and recovering special operations forces.
UUVs can also be launched through submarine torpedo tubes. However, they cannot be recovered the same way.
The torpedo-tube launch and recovery of unmanned vehicles enhances a submarine’s operational flexibility and reach while minimizing risk to human life.
“This capability allows us to extend our reach with additional sensors at both shallower and deeper depths than a manned submarine can access,” US Naval Submarine Forces Commander Navy Vice Admiral Rob Gaucher said after the first deployment of the REMUS 600 from a submarine torpedo in May.
“It reduces risk to the submarine by performing dull, dirty, and dangerous missions with the UUV, and the Yellow Moray system (REMUS 600) reduces risk to our divers since we can launch and recover via a torpedo tube.”
REMUS 620
The battery-powered, 3.1-meter-long (10.2-foot) unmanned vehicle operates at depths of up to 600 feet (183 meters) and supports semi-autonomous functions.
It offers an operational endurance of up to 100 hours and a range of 275 nautical miles (509 kilometers/316 miles).
Its modular design allows for the integration of a variety of payloads to support missions, including mine countermeasures, hydrographic surveys, intelligence collection, surveillance, and electronic warfare.
