HII, the largest military shipbuilder in the United States, used the Combined Naval Event (CNE) 2026 to spotlight its expanding portfolio of autonomous maritime systems, headlined by the AI-enabled ROMULUS family of unmanned surface vessels. The event ran May 19-21 at the Farnborough International Exhibition Centre in the United Kingdom.
Briefing the Royal Navy on ROMULUS
HII said it briefed General Sir Gwyn Jenkins, First Sea Lord and professional head of the Royal Navy, and Rear Admiral Matt Stratton, Director of Naval Acquisition, on the ROMULUS USV and plans for networked manned-unmanned maritime teaming. The discussions align with Jenkins' stated vision of a hybrid Royal Navy fleet that blends crewed and autonomous systems with full NATO allied integration in the North Atlantic.
A maturing unmanned systems portfolio
Beyond ROMULUS, HII highlighted its REMUS family of unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) and its Odyssey Autonomous Control System software suite, which the company says can manage unmanned swarms across domains. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the REMUS line, which HII describes as the world's leading autonomous underwater vehicle platform; the company has delivered more than 750 REMUS vehicles to over 30 countries, including 14 NATO members, with more than 90% still operational after two decades of service.
Submarine-launched drones and scaled production
HII pointed to several recent milestones, including a U.S. Defense Innovation Unit contract to deliver a submarine Torpedo Tube Launch and Recovery system for autonomously deploying and retrieving REMUS UUVs, as well as successful torpedo-tube launch and recovery of a REMUS 600 from the submarine USS Delaware (SSN 791). The company also reported progress toward scaled production of the ROMULUS USV family, including construction of multiple ROMULUS 151 vessels and an expanded facility in Portchester, U.K., serving as a European hub for allied customers.
Allied collaboration and a wider autonomy push
HII is working with Babcock International Group to integrate autonomous launch and recovery of UUVs through submarine torpedo tubes, and ROMULUS USVs feature in Babcock's ARMOR (Autonomous and Remote, Maritime Operational Response) Force initiative supporting the Royal Navy's next-generation programs. "Our autonomous maritime systems are operating today in some of the world's most demanding environments," said Duane Fotheringham, president of the Unmanned Systems group in HII's Mission Technologies division.
The push reflects a broader defense shift toward autonomy. Recent examples include the Pentagon's move to award Perennial Autonomy a $500M counter-drone deal, L3Harris' delivery of T4 and T7 tactical robots to the Australian Defense Force, and the spread of armed quadruped military robots carrying mounted weapons.
Reporting based on coverage from HII.