Autonomous USVs Expand Naval Mission Capabilities

HII and MetalCraft Marine have completed delivery and sea testing of two autonomous unmanned surface vessels (USVs) developed under a Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) contract for the U.S. Marine Corps. The ROMULUS-25 platforms incorporate AI-enabled autonomy systems designed to support distributed maritime operations, surveillance, and mission execution in naval environments.

AI-Based Autonomy Supports Small-Form Naval Platforms
The two ROMULUS-25 USVs were delivered in December 2025 and demonstrated autonomous mission behaviours during sea trials. The programme focused on smaller-form autonomous vessels intended for deployment scenarios requiring mobility, reduced logistical demands, and distributed operations.

The ROMULUS-25 is a 27-foot high-speed interceptor vessel capable of carrying payloads up to 1,000 pounds with an operational range of up to 1,000 nautical miles. The platform is fully autonomous and uses HII’s Odyssey autonomy suite, an AI-based system integrating multiple sensors and effectors to enable coordinated cross-domain maritime operations.

Modular Architecture Enables Autonomous Fleet Integration
Odyssey autonomy has undergone validation through more than 2,200 hours of autonomous operations during government-led testing and exercises over five years. Across more than 30 deployed platforms, the system has accumulated over 12,000 hours of at-sea autonomous operations, indicating operational maturity beyond prototype deployment.




The autonomy suite employs a Modular Open Systems Architecture (MOSA), enabling integration with HII’s Minotaur targeting network. This architecture supports AI-based contact recognition and identification while allowing interoperability with additional sensors, payloads, and mission systems. Open architecture designs are increasingly used in defence applications to reduce vendor lock-in and accelerate technology upgrades.

Autonomous Surface Vessels Address Distributed Maritime Operations
Smaller autonomous vessels can support expeditionary naval concepts where forces operate across dispersed locations with reduced logistical footprints. Compared with larger USVs, compact platforms may enable transport by road, deployment from amphibious vessels, or operation from temporary expeditionary bases.

According to Andy Green, executive vice president of HII and president of HII’s Mission Technologies division, the delivery demonstrates the scalability of AI-enabled autonomous systems for extending operational reach and endurance in naval missions. Only the statement regarding scalability and operational deployment was retained due to its relevance to platform capability.

The ROMULUS-25 belongs to HII’s broader USV portfolio, spanning from 7-foot micro-USVs to the ROMULUS-190, a 190-foot aluminium platform designed for multiple containerised payloads. This range reflects an industry trend toward mixed fleets combining autonomous and crewed vessels for hybrid maritime operations.

Edited by Natania Lyngdoh, Induportals editor, with AI assistance.

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