This agreement marks a pivotal expansion of HII’s international footprint and represents a major sales milestone for its commercial REMUS 300 program. The vehicle, renowned for its modular, open-architecture design, is engineered for maximum mission adaptability, allowing it to be reconfigured for various tasks from seabed mapping to intelligence gathering.
The REMUS 300’s proven design served as the direct commercial foundation for the U.S. Navy’s own Lionfish SUUV program, underscoring its strategic value and technological maturity. Its adoption by Hitachi, a key industrial partner in Japan, strengthens the defense industrial collaboration between the two nations and enhances a critical security partnership in the Pacific region.
Duane Fotheringham, president of the Uncrewed Systems business group within HII’s Mission Technologies division, emphasized the importance of the agreement. “We greatly appreciate the confidence Hitachi has placed in us and our technology,” Fotheringham stated. “The success of our commercial REMUS 300 vehicles is a direct result of our dedicated work in international markets and the profound trust our global customers place in the REMUS product line. These systems are not just vehicles; they are vital tools that deliver critical mine-hunting capabilities and flexible payload options to our allies and partners, ensuring interoperability in complex maritime environments.”
The REMUS 300 is already in active service with the naval forces of several allied nations. Its deployment by Japanese industry through Hitachi is expected to provide advanced autonomous capabilities for maritime security operations. The vehicle’s ability to operate seamlessly alongside partner forces offers a formidable advantage, promoting stability and shared situational awareness in strategically vital waterways. This procurement ensures that Japan will possess one of the most advanced, commercially available unmanned undersea systems, further solidifying its maritime defense capabilities for years to come.
