HII expands unmanned production facility by 25% to meet rising global maritime demand

HII has expanded its unmanned systems production campus in Pocasset, Mass., adding 10,000 square feet to its 40,000-square-foot manufacturing facility as demand grows for autonomous maritime platforms and related technologies in New England’s Blue Economy.

The added space increases capacity to build, develop and integrate the company’s unmanned and autonomous maritime systems, including the REMUS family of unmanned underwater vehicles and ROMULUS unmanned surface vessels.

The facility expansion brings additional production capacity for the U.S. Navy’s Lionfish small unmanned undersea vehicle, which is based on HII’s commercial REMUS 300 platform and is currently in production. In July, the Navy awarded HII an option-year contract for continued Lionfish production. The Pocasset site will also support production of the REMUS 620 UUV.

HII said the project also advances integration of its Odyssey Autonomous Control Solutions software, enabling simulation and modeling to support increasingly complex missions across multiple domains and vehicle types, along with autonomy hardware for ROMULUS USVs.

The company marked the expansion with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by U.S. Rep. Bill Keating, highlighting HII’s growing presence on Cape Cod and the region’s role in maritime technology and advanced manufacturing.

“Today’s expansion reflects HII’s continued investment in the people, technology and partnerships that have made us a leader in unmanned maritime capabilities and placed New England at the center for maritime innovation,” said Duane Fotheringham, president of the Unmanned Systems group in HII’s Mission Technologies division. “By bringing together advanced unmanned platforms, autonomy, integration, simulation and modeling capabilities, we are expanding our ability to deliver the maritime systems our customers need while continuing to create high-quality jobs here in Massachusetts.”

Keating has been a longtime supporter of HII’s operations in Massachusetts and served as a keynote speaker at the 2014 grand opening of HII’s unmanned production facility. “HII’s continued growth on Cape Cod demonstrates how investments in advanced maritime technology can strengthen our national security while supporting good jobs and economic opportunity here in Massachusetts,” Keating said. “I was proud to join HII for the opening of the Pocasset manufacturing facility, and it is exciting to see how the company’s capabilities and workforce have continued to grow. The technologies being developed here strengthen the Blue Economy, support our maritime communities and help ensure the United States remains at the forefront of ocean innovation.”

HII currently employs about 300 people in Pocasset and has added 50 employees so far in 2026, continuing a pattern of workforce growth in recent years. The company said the expansion reflects its ongoing commitment to Cape Cod and New England as a center for maritime technology development, advanced manufacturing and highly skilled employment.

HII’s unmanned systems footprint on Cape Cod is closely tied to its longstanding technology development partnership with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, a collaboration that has advanced autonomous underwater technology and leveraged the region’s concentration of scientific research, engineering and maritime expertise.

Technologies developed and produced in Pocasset support a broad range of missions. In addition to defense and national security, HII’s unmanned and autonomous systems are used for ocean exploration, academic and scientific research, environmental monitoring and commercial maritime operations.

REMUS UUVs provide autonomous undersea capabilities for missions ranging from oceanographic research and environmental monitoring to defense operations. The ROMULUS USV family extends autonomous capabilities to the surface domain, while Odyssey autonomy supports more integrated unmanned operations. Together with HII’s simulation and modeling, these systems are designed to help customers plan, test and execute complex maritime missions.

The REMUS family, which celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2026, has been field-proven in naval and maritime operations worldwide. HII has delivered more than 750 REMUS vehicles to customers in more than 30 countries, including 14 NATO members, and reports that more than 90% of REMUS systems delivered over the past 25 years remain in active service.