Tokyo-based Hitachi has requested that Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) provide more than a dozen REMUS 300 small uncrewed undersea vehicles (SUUVs).
The multi-year agreement takes place against the backdrop of a long-standing defense relationship between Japan and the United States.
It has not been determined if the contract was granted on behalf of the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force. The platform’s modular architecture, chosen by the US Navy for its Lionfish program, allows for quick payload integration, facilitating mission-specific setups and potential advancements.
The REMUS 300 is equipped with a 4.5-kilowatt-hour Lithium-ion battery and is capable of running for 30 hours at a depth of 305 meters (1,001 feet).
It has a range of 165 kilometers (102 miles) and a top speed of 5 knots (9 kilometers/6 miles per hour).
Other battery options of 1.5 kilowatt-hour and 3.0 kilowatt-hour decrease the platform’s overall performance.
For increased mission range and less detection risk, the 2.03-meter (6.66 ft) SUUV can be coupled with crewed platforms like submarines.
