Innovative UUVs Set to Transform NOAA’s Oceanographic Missions

HII Mission Technologies division has successfully built and delivered two REMUS 620 Uncrewed Underwater Vehicles (UUVs) to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for enhancing high-resolution ocean floor mapping. Unveiled only 22 months ago in November 2022, the REMUS 620 is the first medium-class UUV designed to deliver a comprehensive range of above- and below-water capabilities over long distances.

 

“The rapid delivery of the REMUS 620 underscores HII’s exceptional agility and efficiency in producing and deploying uncrewed systems that meet the needs of our customers,” said Duane Fotheringham, president of Mission Technologies’ Unmanned Systems business group. “The swift production and delivery timeline to NOAA demonstrate our commitment to supporting our customers’ mission requirements with rapid development and deployment of new capabilities and technology.”

 

The REMUS 620 vehicles incorporate cutting-edge modular design and engineering. Like all the REMUS UUVs built by HII, the NOAA REMUS 620 vehicles have been modified with customized enhancements for NOAA’s advanced underwater mapping and habitat restoration missions. Upgrades include a synthetic aperture sonar module, additional energy module, and auxiliary equipment.

 

NOAA plans to use the REMUS 620 vehicles for high-resolution mapping in the Gulf of Mexico, with a focus on restoring Mesophotic and Deep Benthic Communities — or dim and sunlight-free seafloor habitats — injured by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The timely delivery of these UUVs will allow NOAA to accelerate its critical environmental restoration and exploration missions, building on its existing use of other REMUS models for habitat characterization, marine archaeology, and various oceanographic studies.

 

“The market interest in the REMUS 620 has been tremendous,” Fotheringham said. “The rapid delivery to NOAA, alongside our growing backlog of REMUS 300 orders, reinforces the market’s confidence in the continued capabilities and versatility of the REMUS series.”

 

Over than 600 REMUS UUVs have been sold globally and are in operation in more than 30 countries, including 14 NATO members. Over 90% of the vehicles delivered in the past 23 years are still operational today, demonstrating the platform’s durability and the ability to integrate new technologies as they are developed.

 

BlueZone Group, HII’s authorized REMUS depot level service centre in Australia, plays a crucial role in supporting the deployment and maintenance of REMUS vehicles within the region. Established as a service centre in 2022, BlueZone provides comprehensive depot-level support, including maintenance, repairs, upgrades, and sensor integration for REMUS AUVs. This partnership ensures that Australian and regional users, such as the Royal Australian Navy, benefit from minimized downtime and enhanced operational availability of their REMUS systems.

 

Read More:

HII Delivers Advanced REMUS 620 UUVs to NOAA Less than 24 Months after Unveiling – HII

HII REMUS AUVs – BlueZone Group

BlueZone named as authorised REMUS service centre – BlueZone Group