Headquartered in Tokyo, Hitachi has asked Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) to provide more than a dozen REMUS 300 tiny uncrewed undersea vehicles (SUUVs).
The multi-year agreement is made in the context of a long-standing defense alliance between Japan and the United States.
The Japan Maritime Self Defense Force has not been mentioned as the recipient of the contract. The platform’s modular design, chosen by the US Navy for its Lionfish program, facilitates quick payload integration, allowing for future improvements and mission-specific setups.
A 4.5-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery powers the REMUS 300, which can operate for up to 30 hours at a depth of 305 meters (1,001 feet).
With a range of 165 kilometers (102 miles), it can reach a maximum speed of 5 knots (9 kilometers/6 miles per hour).
The platform’s total performance is diminished by alternative battery options of 1.5 kilowatt-hour and 3.0 kilowatt-hour.
The 2.03-meter (6.66-foot) SUUV may be coupled with manned platforms like submarines to improve mission range and lessen the chance of discovery.
