HII and Incat Crowther Showcase Strategic USV Partnership

5 November 2025

(Image credit: HII)

HII, America’s largest military shipbuilder and a global leader in unmanned autonomous maritime systems, will join with Sydney-based Incat Crowther at the Indo Pacific International Maritime Exposition to highlight the transformative international partnership shaping the future of unmanned surface vessel (USV) technology and global defense collaboration.

The briefing will focus on the companies’ collaboration on ROMULUS, HII’s newly announced family of modular, AI-enabled USVs powered by the advanced Odyssey™ Autonomous Control System (ACS). The flagship of the program, ROMULUS 190, is currently under construction in close coordination with Incat Crowther, reinforcing Australia’s critical strategic integration into the global defense industrial base.

“ROMULUS is a force multiplier,” said Andy Green, president of HII’s Mission Technologies division. “By combining US 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.”

Dr. Andrew Tuite, the Technical Director of Incat Crowther, reinforced the importance of the collaboration: “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.”

ROMULUS 190 is a 190-foot, AI-enabled USV built on a commercial-standard hull and designed for rapid, repeatable production. With speeds over 25 knots and a range of 2,500 nautical miles while carrying four 40-foot ISO containers, it is purpose-built for global mission deployment and sustained autonomy. The vessel is being developed in partnership with Incat Crowther, Breaux Brothers and Beier Integrated Systems.

Driven by HII’s Odyssey ACS, ROMULUS delivers open-ocean autonomy, multi-agent swarming, and modular adaptability. It supports missions ranging from intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) and counter-unmanned air systems (C-UAS) to mine countermeasures, strike, and the launch and recovery of unmanned undersea vehicles (UUV) and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV).

The ROMULUS program underscores the importance of allied industrial partnerships in reinforcing deterrence, ensuring interoperability, and maintaining maritime dominance in contested regions. The integration of Incat Crowther into the ROMULUS initiative exemplifies how trusted international partners strengthen the global defense ecosystem with high-performance design, engineering agility, and regional expertise.