Boeing and Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) have announced a partnership to work on the design and production of UUVs, which will be used in support of the U.S. Navy’s Extra Large UUV program.

Design and production facilities in Huntington Beach, California, Newport News, Virginia, and Panama City, Florida, will be leveraged through the partnership. Access to all of Boeing's and HII's expertise and capabilities will also be offered.  

“This partnership provides the Navy a cost-effective, low-risk path to meet the emergent needs that prompted the Navy’s Advanced Undersea Prototyping program,” says Darryl Davis, president, Boeing Phantom Works.

“We are combining Boeing’s preeminent UUV maritime engineering team with our nation’s leading shipbuilder and Navy technical services company to get operational vehicles to the Navy years ahead of the standard acquisition process.”

Andy Green, executive vice president of HII and president of the company’s Technical Solutions division, adds, “we look forward to a long relationship with Boeing as we embark together to field this unmanned force-multiplier for the Navy.”

“I am confident this team will continue redefining the autonomy paradigm for UUVs.”

Currently, Boeing is testing the Echo Voyager, its newest and largest UUV. The UUV, which is being tested off the Southern California coast, is fully autonomous, meaning it can operate for months out on sea before returning to port.

Designed for multiple missions, the Echo Voyager UUV can include a modular payload bay of up to 34 feet, giving it a leg up over traditional UUVs thanks to enhanced endurance and an increased payload capacity.