Imagine a world where unmanned ships silently patrol the oceans, acting as sentinels for global security. It sounds like science fiction, right? But it's rapidly becoming reality, and a groundbreaking partnership between American and Australian companies is at the forefront of this revolution. This is more than just building ships; it's about reshaping the very future of maritime defense.
HII, the largest military shipbuilder in the United States, is teaming up with Incat Crowther, an innovative ship designer from Sydney, Australia, to showcase their strategic partnership at the Indo Pacific 2025 International Maritime Exposition. This collaboration isn't just about two companies working together; it signifies Australia's growing importance in the global defense innovation landscape. The event will take place on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at the International Convention Centre Sydney, Australia, at HII Booth Number: 2A34.
At the heart of this partnership is ROMULUS, HII's newly unveiled family of modular, AI-powered Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs). ROMULUS is driven by the advanced Odyssey™ Autonomous Control System (ACS). The ROMULUS 190, the program's flagship vessel, is currently under construction, with Incat Crowther playing a pivotal role. This collaboration underscores Australia's increasing strategic integration into the global defense industrial base.
"ROMULUS is a force multiplier," explains Andy Green, president of HII's Mission Technologies division. "By combining U.S. shipbuilding strength, AI-driven autonomy, and the expertise of international partners like Incat Crowther, we are delivering an adaptable, scalable system for today's and tomorrow's maritime missions." Think of it: the robust manufacturing capabilities of the US combined with cutting-edge AI and the design prowess coming from down under. It's a potent combination.
Dr. Andrew Tuite, the Technical Director of Incat Crowther, emphasizes the significance of this collaboration, stating, "This program is a milestone for Australian defense design and engineering. Our role in ROMULUS 190 is proof that Australia is not just a regional contributor, but a critical player in the global defense industrial base. Together with HII, we're building the future of autonomous maritime operations." But here's where it gets controversial... Some might argue whether Australia is truly ready to compete on a global scale in defense innovation. What do you think?
ROMULUS 190 is an impressive piece of technology: a 190-foot USV boasting AI capabilities, built on a commercially-standard hull for rapid and repeatable production. It can reach speeds exceeding 25 knots and has a range of 2,500 nautical miles, all while carrying four 40-foot ISO containers. This makes it ideal for global mission deployment and sustained autonomous operations. In addition to Incat Crowther, Breaux Brothers and Beier Integrated Systems are also key partners in this vessel's development.
Driving ROMULUS is HII’s Odyssey ACS, which enables open-ocean autonomy, multi-agent swarming capabilities, and modular adaptability. This allows the USV to perform a wide range of missions, from intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) and counter-unmanned air systems (C-UAS) to mine countermeasures, strike operations, and the launch and recovery of unmanned undersea vehicles (UUVs) and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Imagine a single vessel capable of handling all these diverse tasks!
The ROMULUS program highlights the importance of partnerships in strengthening deterrence, ensuring interoperability, and maintaining maritime dominance in contested regions. The integration of Incat Crowther demonstrates how international collaboration enhances the global defense ecosystem with high-performance design, engineering expertise, and regional knowledge. And this is the part most people miss... It's not just about the technology; it's about the strategic alliances that make it all possible.
Odyssey: Proven, Open, and Evolving
HII’s Odyssey ACS software suite is not just some theoretical concept; it's a battle-tested system capable of manned-unmanned teaming and collaborative operations across all domains. Deployed on over 35 USV platforms and over 750 REMUS unmanned underwater vehicles across 30 countries, including 14 NATO members, the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, and U.S. Coast Guard, Odyssey enables rapid integration of sensors and payloads for flexible mission design. This significantly enhances the capability and effectiveness of naval fleets.
Odyssey's intuitive interface and customizable features generate mission behaviors for greater lethality and survivability, simplifying control of unmanned swarms across domains. Its open-access, government-aligned architecture allows for rapid integration of new sensors, payloads, and third-party autonomy technologies. This collaborative environment allows industry, government, and academia to refine capabilities, ensuring ROMULUS stays ahead of emerging naval concepts.
ROMULUS integrates technologies from Shield AI, Applied Intuition, and C3 AI with HII’s Odyssey for enhanced autonomy, object classification, and lifecycle sustainment.
Multi-Mission, Multi-Domain Flexibility
ROMULUS's reconfigurable design supports teaming across surface, subsurface, and air domains for missions including C-UAS, ISR, strike operations, and UUV/UAV launch and recovery. This versatility makes it a valuable asset in a wide range of scenarios.
Enhanced-Domain Advantage with HII’s REMUS UUV
When paired with HII’s REMUS UUVs, ROMULUS extends undersea reach, closing anti-submarine warfare sensing gaps and keeping manned platforms at a safer standoff distance. REMUS's track record in mine counter-measures (MCM) missions accelerates clearance operations and reduces fleet risk. Together, ROMULUS and REMUS deliver a scalable dual-domain solution across surface and subsurface missions.
Reinforcing HII’s Leadership
With ROMULUS, HII solidifies its position as a global leader in durable, autonomous unmanned systems. Developed with support from HII’s Dark Sea Labs Advanced Technology Group, ROMULUS joins the proven REMUS UUV line, with over 700 delivered to over 30 nations and more than 90% still operational after more than two decades. Powered by HII’s Odyssey autonomy, ROMULUS and REMUS form a dual-domain family of unmanned platforms that expands operational reach, maximizes mission flexibility, and ensures dependable performance.
Key ROMULUS Capabilities:
- Modular, Open Architecture: Built on open standards like Unmanned Maritime Autonomy Architecture (UMAA), Robot Operating System (ROS), and Data Distribution Service (DDS), Odyssey ensures compatibility with U.S. Navy autonomy requirements and control stations. Its modular architecture allows for rapid reconfiguration and integration with modular payloads, new sensors, and systems.
- Multi-Agent Autonomy: Odyssey enables control of individual assets or swarms, a key capability for future warfare. Its mission library delivers high-level autonomy for rapid single-agent tasks or complex, multi-agent scenarios in coordination with crewed and unmanned platforms. Secure data management enables instant analytics or detailed post-mission review, while its modular design supports seamless integration of customer or third-party sensors, payloads, algorithms, and interfaces.
- Intelligent Operations: Autonomous health monitoring, sensor fusion, and perception deliver intuitive mission planning, real-time situational awareness, and diagnostics. Navigation complies with the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS), ensuring operational reliability in all conditions.
- Fleet Integration: Designed to align with future fleet Concepts of Operations (CONOPS), supporting unmanned and optionally manned missions and integrated operations with aircraft carrier strike groups and surface action groups.
About HII
HII is a global, all-domain defense provider whose mission is to deliver the world’s most powerful ships and all-domain solutions. With a history of over 135 years, HII delivers critical capabilities extending from ships to unmanned systems, cyber, ISR, AI/ML, and synthetic training. Headquartered in Virginia, HII has a workforce of 44,000. For more information, visit HII.com, facebook.com/TeamHII, x.com/WeAreHII, and instagram.com/WeAreHII.
About Incat Crowther
Incat Crowther is a digital shipbuilder based in Sydney, Australia, known for its innovative approach to ship design and construction. Their work involves advanced design tools and a database of proven designs to create accurate, repeatable, and operation-ready ships, ranging from Ro Pax Ferries to Multi-Role Support Vessels for the Australian Navy. They are committed to delivering high-performance vessel designs tailored to the needs of ship operators and other maritime sectors.
So, what are your thoughts? Is this partnership a game-changer for maritime defense, or are there potential pitfalls we should be aware of? Will autonomous vessels truly revolutionize naval operations, or will human oversight always be essential? Share your opinions in the comments below!
