Robotics
HII Launches Robotics Initiative for Unmanned Vessel Manufacturing
NEW IBERIA, La. — HII plans to expand automated production capabilities for its ROMULUS unmanned surface vessel program through a new assembly facility in Louisiana and a robotics-focused manufacturing initiative aimed at increasing production speed and scalability.
The company announced plans for an expanded ROMULUS unmanned surface vessel assembly operation at Breaux Brothers Enterprises in New Iberia, alongside the launch of its High-Yield Production Robotics (HYPR) initiative.
According to HII, the facility and HYPR initiative are intended to transition unmanned vessel manufacturing from prototype production toward scalable, repeatable assembly-line manufacturing using automation, digital production systems and standardized workflows.
The upgraded Breaux Brothers facility is designed to support serial production of ROMULUS vessels ranging from approximately 20 feet to 190 feet in length. HII said the facility will incorporate automation, advanced tooling and standardized production processes intended to support higher-rate manufacturing across multiple vessel configurations.
“ROMULUS is engineered from the outset for scale,” said Andy Green, president of HII’s Mission Technologies division. “By pairing a purpose-built assembly line with automation and strong industry partnerships, we are driving predictable production outcomes and lowering the cost of unmanned surface vessels.”
The HYPR initiative will incorporate robotic welding, automated material handling and digitally enabled quality assurance into the vessel production environment. HII said proof-of-concept demonstrations with manufacturing partners are planned for 2026, followed by a pilot program targeted for early 2027.
According to the company, the automation strategy is intended to support concurrent hull construction, reduce labor hours and rework, and increase production throughput while maintaining consistent quality.
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“HYPR applies next-generation industrial robotics to shipbuilding processes that have traditionally been labor-intensive and difficult to automate,” said Eric Chewning, executive vice president of maritime systems and corporate strategy at HII. “For ROMULUS, this means fewer labor hours per hull, greater schedule predictability, and a manufacturing model that can scale efficiently as volumes increase.”
HII said it is working with partners including Breaux Brothers Enterprises and Incat Crowther to align vessel design, tooling and facility layout to support automated production workflows.
The ROMULUS unmanned vessel family is intended for applications including intelligence collection, mine countermeasures and unmanned system deployment for military customers. A prototype vessel is currently under construction at the Louisiana facility.
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