Remus UUV Launches from Submarine Torpedo Tube

Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII), a leading provider of unmanned maritime platforms, has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Department of Defense’s Defense Innovation Unit to deliver a torpedo tube launch and recovery system. This system enables the autonomous deployment and recovery of HII’s Remus unmanned underwater vehicle from torpedo tubes on U.S. Navy submarines. The goal: to expand the range and effectiveness of maritime operations.

In June 2025, the U.S. Navy and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) demonstrated the successful advancement of the Yellow Moray UUV’s capabilities. For the first time, a Remus 600 UUV built by HII was launched and recovered from the torpedo tube of the submarine USS Delaware. These operations, which were conducted via the torpedo tube without the assistance of divers, represented a significant operational advance for the autonomous collaboration of manned and unmanned systems, particularly for reconnaissance, surveillance, and exploration missions.

Remus: Durable and Functional

Another milestone was reached in July 2025 when a joint team from HII, WHOI, and the U.S. Navy’s Naval Undersea Warfare Center completed the first recovery of the Remus 620, the latest generation, in a test setup for torpedo tubes and shafts of a Virginia-class submarine at Seneca Lake, New York. During the tests, the Remus 620 demonstrated advanced autonomous navigation and communication capabilities. The vehicle successfully docked with a so-called SAFECAP capsule and performed a reverse launch as well as safe separation procedures, thereby validating critical operational functions for future missions.

These advancements underscore HII’s role as an innovator in the integration of manned and unmanned systems. The ability to integrate UUVs via standard submarine interfaces expands mission range, improves stealth, and reduces operational risks as well as crew workload. To date, HII has delivered more than 750 Remus vehicles to over 30 countries, with over 90 percent of these systems still in service after more than two decades, demonstrating their durability and reliability.

What does this development mean for the drone industry?

This development highlights the ongoing integration of unmanned systems into complex military operations. The ability to seamlessly deploy and recover autonomous underwater vehicles from manned platforms opens up new dimensions for maritime surveillance, reconnaissance, and potential military operations. This signals a growing trend toward hybrid system architectures, in which the strengths of manned and unmanned platforms are synergistically leveraged to achieve operational advantages.