HII/MetalCraft Marine Autonomous ROMULUS USV with HII Autonomy Successfully Passed a Critical DoW Test

Rhea-AI Summary

HII (NYSE: HII) reported that the U.S. Defense Innovation Unit has officially recognized successful completion of its PRIME prototype project, centered on the Watcher small Unmanned Surface Vessel, based on the ROMULUS‑25 USV and powered by the Odyssey Autonomous Control System.

The recognition follows delivery and sea testing of two autonomous ROMULUS‑25 vessels in December 2025 for the U.S. Marine Corps. Developed with MetalCraft Marine, the Watcher sUSV met key technical objectives and success metrics and is positioned for a potential transition to production via Other Transaction Authority agreements.

Market Context

HII’s recent Form 4 record showed Net Selling, while current short positioning was categorized as lo...

Analysis

HII’s recent Form 4 record showed Net Selling, while current short positioning was categorized as low. Against that backdrop, the platform record adds ownership context; production conversion remains the key item to watch.

Key Figures

Vessels Sea Tested: 2 vessels Solution Briefs: 116 solution briefs Payload Capacity: 1,000 pounds +1 more

4 metrics

Vessels Sea Tested 2 vessels December 2025 DIU contract

Solution Briefs 116 solution briefs PRIME initiative competition

Payload Capacity 1,000 pounds ROMULUS-25 maximum payload

Operating Range 1,000 nautical miles ROMULUS-25 maximum range

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Aug 06 (Positive)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	24h Move	Catalyst
Aug 06	production agreements	Positive	+1.3%	HII signed performance-based robotics agreements supporting potential shipbuilding work
Aug 04	automation partnership	Positive	-1.7%	HII expanded intelligent welding automation through an HD Hyundai partnership
Aug 03	leadership change	Neutral	-0.1%	HII appointed Chris Helton infrastructure and sustainability vice president
Jul 30	2Q26 earnings report	Positive	+14.1%	HII reported higher revenue, earnings, backlog, and raised shipbuilding guidance
Jul 29	submarine contracts	Positive	+14.1%	HII received submarine contract modifications covering fourteen additional vessels

24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.

Pattern Detected

Positive HII announcements aligned with gains of 1.28% and 14.09% in the selected history, while one positive partnership announcement diverged at -1.66%.

Key Terms

unmanned surface vessel, autonomous control system, modular open systems architecture, other transaction authority, +1 more

5 terms

unmanned surface vessel technical

"featuring the Watcher small Unmanned Surface Vessel (sUSV)"

An unmanned surface vessel is a boat or ship that operates on the water without a person on board, using remote control or automated systems to navigate and carry out tasks. Investors care because these vessels can lower operating costs, open new markets (like shipping, surveillance, or data collection), and shift regulatory and competitive dynamics much like self-driving cars changed expectations for trucking and logistics.

autonomous control system technical

"powered by HII’s Odyssey Autonomous Control System (ACS)"

An autonomous control system is a combination of sensors, processors, and software that monitors a machine, vehicle, or industrial process, makes decisions based on inputs, and executes actions with little or no human intervention. It matters to investors because adopting these systems can change a company's cost structure, safety profile, scalability and regulatory exposure—like replacing a human pilot with an autopilot, which alters labor needs, maintenance, liability and potential new revenue pathways.

modular open systems architecture technical

"Odyssey ACS modular open systems architecture (MOSA)"

A modular open systems architecture is a way of designing complex products so they’re assembled from standardized, interchangeable parts that connect using publicly available rules — think of building with Lego bricks rather than gluing everything together. For investors, it matters because this approach lowers lifecycle costs, reduces dependence on any single supplier, speeds upgrades and innovation, and makes products and programs less risky and easier to sell or partner on.

other transaction authority regulatory

"under Other Transaction Authority (OTA) prototype agreements"

Other transaction authority is a legal power that lets certain U.S. government agencies sign flexible, custom agreements for research, prototypes and limited production outside standard federal contracting rules. For investors, it matters because contracts awarded under this authority can produce faster, less bureaucratic revenue and bring new suppliers into government work, but they are often less transparent and can be smaller, shorter-term or harder to predict than traditional government contracts—like a bespoke order versus a catalog purchase.

unmanned underwater vehicles technical

"producer of autonomous underwater vehicles through its REMUS family"

Unmanned underwater vehicles are robotic vessels that operate below the water’s surface without a human aboard, either controlled remotely or programmed to act on their own—think of them as drones for the ocean. Investors care because they enable cheaper, safer and faster work in areas like defense, offshore energy, seabed mapping, and underwater infrastructure inspection, creating revenue and cost-saving opportunities across multiple industries.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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MCLEAN, Va., Aug. 11, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HII (NYSE: HII) announced that the U.S. Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) has officially recognized the successful completion of the company’s Production-Ready, Inexpensive, Maritime Expeditionary (PRIME) prototype project, featuring the Watcher small Unmanned Surface Vessel (sUSV), which is based on HII’s ROMULUS-25 Unmanned Surface Vessel and powered by HII’s Odyssey Autonomous Control System (ACS).

The DIU recognition follows HII’s delivery and successful sea testing of two autonomous Watcher ROMULUS-25 vessels in December 2025 under a DIU contract to develop smaller-form-factor autonomous surface vessels for the U.S. Marine Corps.

Developed in partnership with MetalCraft Marine, the Watcher sUSV successfully met the program’s technical objectives and is now positioned for a potential transition to production.

A photo accompanying this release is available at: https://www.hii.com/newsroom.

HII’s Odyssey ACS modular open systems architecture (MOSA) enables intelligent navigation, mission planning, collaborative behaviors, and multi-domain autonomous operations while allowing operators to rapidly integrate autonomy across multiple vehicle types and increasingly complex missions in contested environments. Its service-based design enables seamless integration with other mission-enabling technologies, enhancing mission effectiveness through AI-enabled contact recognition, identification, and edge-based decision-making.

In a memorandum to HII, DIU stated: "The HII Watcher sUSV has successfully demonstrated its appropriateness to address the Department of the Navy’s operational need for sUSV interceptors, capable of autonomously transiting hundreds of miles through contested waterspace, loitering in an assigned operating area while monitoring for maritime surface threats, and then sprinting to interdict a noncooperative, maneuvering vessel."

The memorandum further concluded that HII achieved the prototype’s key technical goals and success metrics, supporting a potential transition to production under Other Transaction Authority (OTA) prototype agreements.

"This milestone is another example of HII’s strategy to rapidly transition innovative technologies from concept to operational capability," said Duane Fotheringham, president of the Unmanned Systems group within HII’s Mission Technologies division. "As demand for autonomous systems continues to grow, HII remains focused on delivering proven, mission-ready autonomous solutions that strengthen naval readiness and provide our customers with greater operational flexibility."

Mike Reed, General Manager of MetalCraft Marine, said, "This milestone is a significant accomplishment for the entire MetalCraft team and a strong validation of what can be achieved when our experienced boatbuilders combine their expertise with HII autonomy capabilities. The Watcher was engineered and built to deliver the speed, seakeeping, strength and reliability demanded by this mission. Successfully completing the government-led autonomy, seakeeping, performance and degraded-environment assessments confirms the quality of the aluminum platform and the discipline behind its design and construction. MetalCraft has built its reputation on high-performance aluminum vessels that perform when needed most, and this milestone positions the Watcher for the next step, from successful prototype to production”

The two ROMULUS-25 autonomous vessels completed extensive at-sea testing, successfully demonstrating advanced autonomous mission behaviors across a range of operational scenarios, including contractor demonstrations, government-led autonomy assessments, seakeeping and performance evaluations, and degraded-environment testing.

The PRIME initiative challenged industry to deliver commercially available, production-ready autonomous surface vessels capable of supporting maritime expeditionary operations. Following a full and open competition that attracted 116 solution briefs, HII was selected to design, build, and demonstrate its solution.

The ROMULUS-25, part of HII’s expanding family of autonomous unmanned surface vessels, is a high-speed interceptor capable of carrying payloads of up to 1,000 pounds and operating at ranges of up to 1,000 nautical miles.

HII is the world’s leading producer of autonomous underwater vehicles through its REMUS family of unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs), which are deployed by the U.S. Navy and allied partners worldwide for mine countermeasures, underwater reconnaissance, intelligence collection, environmental assessment, and critical seabed operations.

Together, Watcher, ROMULUS USV, REMUS UUV, and Odyssey ACS form an integrated ecosystem of autonomous maritime capabilities that can operate independently or collaboratively to extend fleet reach, enhance maritime awareness, and increase mission effectiveness across the full spectrum of naval operations.

The successful completion of the PRIME prototype further reinforces HII's position as a leader in autonomous maritime systems and demonstrates the company's ability to deliver production-ready autonomous capabilities that meet the evolving needs of the U.S. Department of War and allied navies.

About HII
HII is America’s largest shipbuilder, delivering the world’s most powerful ships and all-domain mission technologies, including unmanned systems, to U.S. and allied defense customers. HII is the largest producer of unmanned underwater vehicles for the U.S. Navy and the world. With a more than 140-year history of advancing U.S. national security, HII builds and integrates defense capabilities extending from the core fleet to C6ISR, AI/ML, EW and synthetic training. Headquartered in Virginia, HII’s workforce is 45,000 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
• HII on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearehii
  
  

About MetalCraft Marine
MetalCraft Marine is a leading marine design, engineering and manufacturing company specializing in high-performance, mission-specific aluminum vessels for military, law-enforcement, fire-rescue and commercial operators. The company combines advanced hull design, precision aluminum fabrication, systems integration and rigorous on-water testing to deliver vessels known for speed, seakeeping, durability, reliability and long service life. MetalCraft’s reputation has been built by listening to operators, solving complex mission requirements and delivering production-quality vessels that perform in the world’s most demanding marine environments.

● MetalCraft Marine on the web: https://www.metalcraftmarine.com/
● MetalCraft Marine on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/metalcraftmarineus
● MetalCraft Marine on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/metalcraft-marine-inc-/

Contact:

Greg McCarthy
(202) 264-7126
gregory.j.mccarthy@hii-co.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/25420b94-58fa-48ba-be59-0187a26076c9

FAQ

What did HII (NYSE: HII) announce about the ROMULUS-25 Watcher USV on August 11, 2026?

HII announced DIU’s recognition of the successful completion of its PRIME prototype using the Watcher ROMULUS‑25 USV. According to HII, two autonomous vessels met key technical goals in government-led autonomy, seakeeping, performance, and degraded-environment assessments, positioning the design for possible production transition.

What is the PRIME prototype project involving HII’s Watcher ROMULUS-25 sUSV?

The PRIME project is a DIU effort challenging industry to deliver production-ready autonomous surface vessels for expeditionary missions. According to HII, its Watcher ROMULUS‑25 sUSV prototype demonstrated advanced autonomous behaviors and met defined success metrics, addressing the Department of the Navy’s need for small interceptor USVs.

What capabilities does HII’s ROMULUS-25 Watcher USV offer under the PRIME program?

The ROMULUS‑25 Watcher USV is a high-speed interceptor carrying up to 1,000 pounds and operating about 1,000 nautical miles. According to HII, Odyssey ACS enables intelligent navigation, mission planning, collaborative behaviors, and multi-domain autonomous operations across complex, contested maritime environments and varied mission profiles.

How did DIU evaluate HII’s Watcher ROMULUS-25 sUSV performance?

DIU concluded the Watcher sUSV appropriately addresses operational needs for autonomous interceptors covering hundreds of miles in contested waters. According to HII, DIU stated the prototype met key technical goals and success metrics, including autonomy, loitering, threat monitoring, and interdiction of noncooperative, maneuvering vessels.

What role does MetalCraft Marine play in HII’s Watcher ROMULUS-25 USV program?

MetalCraft Marine partnered with HII to engineer and build the Watcher aluminum platform for speed, seakeeping, strength, and reliability. According to MetalCraft, successful government autonomy, seakeeping, performance and degraded-environment tests validate the platform’s quality and support its progression from prototype toward potential production.

How does Odyssey Autonomous Control System support HII’s ROMULUS and REMUS fleets?

Odyssey ACS provides modular, open-architecture autonomy for navigation, mission planning, collaboration and multi-domain operations across HII vehicles. According to HII, Odyssey links Watcher, ROMULUS USVs and REMUS UUVs into an integrated ecosystem that can operate independently or collaboratively to extend fleet reach and maritime awareness.