The American company Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) has announced the expansion of its company in the British Portchester. As explained by the representatives of HII, this is necessary to increase its presence in the UK and Europe, in order to ensure, among other things, support for platforms supplied to customers, including unmanned systems.
Naval News notes that the Portchester project will allow HII, an American supplier of ships, vessels and unmanned naval systems, to work more closely with European countries, especially with the United Kingdom and the Royal Navy, whose main base is located nearby in Portsmouth. Today, London has embarked on the transformation of the naval forces into a "hybrid fleet", which involves the integration of traditional platforms with crews and unmanned surface and underwater systems.
Romulus surface drone, USA
HII
HII stated that the new facility will contribute to the further development of its autonomous unmanned vehicles of the Romulus and Remus lines in accordance with the requirements of the Royal Navy and other European naval forces.
At a media briefing, Nick Green, Senior Manager of International Business Development at HII Unmanned Systems, said that the increase by 600 sq.m. meters actually doubles the available production area of the enterprise.
"This facility will allow us to fully support the operation of Remus 620 underwater unmanned vehicles, as well as support the integration of our Odyssey autonomous control system and the development of new Romulus surface drones for the UK and continental Europe," Green said.
He added that the work plans at the facility include the basic assembly of Remus 620 drones, as well as the production, maintenance and support of the associated launch system. In the long term, it is also planned to produce scale-free platforms of the Romulus line.
"Our goal is to establish production here in the UK to support local customers," Dwayne Fotheringham, HII's president of unmanned systems, said at a briefing.
Work in the expanded production facility has begun, and it is planned to phase in its full capacity by the third quarter of 2026.
HII develops, designs and tests several variants of Romulus unmanned surface vehicles in the United States, including the 58-meter Romulus 190. The first prototype is being built at a shipyard on the Gulf coast. Its production has been completed by 30%, and launching, sea trials and delivery are expected before the end of 2026.
According to the developers, the Romulus 190 will be able to reach a maximum speed of 25 knots. The cruising range is 2,500 nautical miles. The capacity is four 40–foot ISO containers.
Remus underwater drone, USA
HII
The British Navy operates Remus 100, Remus 300 and Remus 600 underwater unmanned aerial vehicles. HII is developing Remus 600 and Remus 620 underwater drones with the ability to control and monitor from submarines, which is a requirement of the Royal Navy.
