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

Rhea-AI Summary

HII's Mission Technologies division has delivered two REMUS 620 uncrewed underwater vehicles (UUVs) to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for enhanced ocean floor mapping. The delivery comes less than 24 months after the REMUS 620's unveiling in November 2022. These medium-class UUVs are designed for long-distance operations with above- and below-water capabilities.

The NOAA REMUS 620 vehicles feature customized enhancements including a synthetic aperture sonar module, additional energy module, and auxiliary equipment. NOAA plans to use them for high-resolution mapping in the Gulf of Mexico, focusing on restoring seafloor habitats damaged by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

HII reports strong market interest in the REMUS 620, with over 600 REMUS UUVs sold globally across 30+ countries. Notably, 90% of vehicles delivered in the past 23 years remain operational, showcasing the platform's durability and upgradability.

Positive

• Rapid delivery of advanced UUVs to NOAA in less than 24 months
• Customized enhancements for NOAA's specific mission requirements
• Strong market interest in REMUS 620 and growing backlog of REMUS 300 orders
• Over 600 REMUS UUVs sold globally across 30+ countries
• 90% of REMUS UUVs delivered in the past 23 years still operational

Negative

• None.

Insights

Tech Expert

The delivery of two advanced REMUS 620 UUVs to NOAA in under 24 months is a significant technological achievement for HII. This rapid turnaround demonstrates HII's agility in the competitive UUV market. The customized enhancements, including synthetic aperture sonar and additional energy modules, showcase HII's ability to tailor complex systems to specific customer needs. These upgrades will likely enhance NOAA's underwater mapping capabilities, potentially leading to more efficient and accurate seafloor surveys. The modular design of the REMUS 620 suggests a forward-thinking approach, allowing for future upgrades and adaptations as technology evolves. This flexibility could be a key selling point for HII in securing future contracts and maintaining its market position.

Environmental Research Analyst

NOAA's acquisition of the REMUS 620 UUVs marks a significant advancement in ocean research capabilities, particularly for the Gulf of Mexico restoration efforts. The focus on mapping Mesophotic and Deep Benthic Communities is important for understanding the long-term impacts of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. These advanced UUVs will likely accelerate NOAA's ability to assess and monitor deep-sea ecosystems, potentially leading to more effective restoration strategies. The high-resolution mapping capabilities could reveal previously unknown environmental damages or recovery patterns, informing future conservation efforts. This technology investment by NOAA signals a strong commitment to leveraging cutting-edge tools for environmental monitoring and restoration, which could set new standards for marine research and conservation globally.

Financial Analyst

HII's successful delivery of the REMUS 620 UUVs to NOAA represents a positive development for the company's financial outlook. The rapid production and delivery timeline (22 months) demonstrates operational efficiency, which could translate to improved profit margins. The growing backlog of REMUS 300 orders, coupled with strong market interest in the REMUS 620, suggests a robust demand for HII's unmanned systems. This diversification into advanced UUVs could provide a steady revenue stream, potentially offsetting fluctuations in other business segments. The global reach of REMUS UUVs, with operations in over 30 countries including 14 NATO members, indicates a strong international market presence. The 90% operational rate of delivered vehicles over the past 23 years is a testament to product durability, which could lead to repeat customers and long-term service contracts, further bolstering HII's financial stability.

MCLEAN, Va., Sept. 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HII’s (NYSE: 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 enhanced 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.

A photo accompanying this release is available at: https://hii.com/news/hii-delivers-advanced-remus-620-uuvs-to-noaa-less-than-24-months-after-unveiling/.

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.”

More 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.

About HII

HII is a global, all-domain defense provider. HII’s mission is to deliver the world’s most powerful ships and all-domain solutions in service of the nation, creating the advantage for our customers to protect peace and freedom around the world. As the nation’s largest military shipbuilder, and with a more than 135-year history of advancing U.S. national security, HII delivers critical capabilities extending from ships to unmanned systems, cyber, ISR, AI/ML and synthetic training. Headquartered in Virginia, HII’s workforce is 44,000 strong. For more information, visit:

• HII on the web: https://www.HII.com/
• HII on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeamHII
• HII on X: https://www.twitter.com/WeAreHII
• HII on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/WeAreHII

Contact:

Greg McCarthy
Gregory.j.mccarthy@hii-co.com
Tel: 202.264.7126

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b4a7f0ff-37a2-4619-819e-7baa84ca6122

FAQ

What is the REMUS 620 UUV and what is its significance for HII (NYSE: HII)?

The REMUS 620 is an advanced medium-class uncrewed underwater vehicle developed by HII. It's significant as it's designed for long-distance operations with comprehensive above- and below-water capabilities, demonstrating HII's innovation in unmanned systems.

How quickly did HII (NYSE: HII) deliver the REMUS 620 UUVs to NOAA?

HII delivered two REMUS 620 UUVs to NOAA less than 24 months after unveiling the product in November 2022, showcasing the company's rapid development and deployment capabilities.

What customizations were made to the REMUS 620 UUVs for NOAA's use?

The REMUS 620 UUVs delivered to NOAA were customized with a synthetic aperture sonar module, additional energy module, and auxiliary equipment to support NOAA's advanced underwater mapping and habitat restoration missions.

How does NOAA plan to use the REMUS 620 UUVs from HII (NYSE: HII)?

NOAA plans to use the REMUS 620 UUVs for high-resolution mapping in the Gulf of Mexico, focusing on restoring seafloor habitats damaged by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

What is the global market presence of HII's (NYSE: HII) REMUS UUVs?

Over 600 REMUS UUVs have been sold globally and are in operation in more than 30 countries, including 14 NATO members. Notably, 90% of the vehicles delivered in the past 23 years are still operational.