A joint team from Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII), the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, and the US Navy has verified the compatibility of the REMUS 620 unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) with the Virginia-class submarine’s weapons handling and torpedo tube systems. This was confirmed after a successful dry-run of the REMUS 620 using the Shock and Fire Enclosure Capsule (SAFECAP) within the Virginia-class Cradle Payload Integration Facility and the Mk71 torpedo tube. SAFECAP ensures the health of the UUV’s lithium-ion battery during launch and recovery. This development clears the way for in-water testing of the launch and recovery system later this summer at a Navy site. Submarines have traditionally relied on dry deck shelters, which are detachable modules requiring crew involvement, to deploy unmanned systems. However, only a few submarines—mostly Virginia- and Ohio-class—can use such modules. Alternatively, torpedo tubes can launch UUVs, though recovery via the same method has limitations. This breakthrough enhances operational range and flexibility while minimizing risks to crew. The REMUS 620 is a 3.1-meter-long, battery-powered UUV capable of operating up to 600 feet deep with up to 100 hours of endurance and a range of 275 nautical miles. It features a modular architecture that supports payload customization for varied missions, including mine countermeasures, surveillance, hydrographic surveys, intelligence gathering, and electronic warfare. The successful integration with torpedo tube systems represents a significant step forward in expanding the underwater capabilities of Virginia-class submarines using unmanned technologies.
