First REMUS 620 UUV Recovers in Virginia-Class Submarine Torpedo Tube

A joint team from HII, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, and the U.S. Navy’s NUWC Division Newport completed the first recovery of a second-generation REMUS 620 medium unmanned undersea vehicle into a Virginia-class submarine torpedo tube and shutterway test fixture at Seneca Lake, New York.

This comes less than seven months after integrating WHOI’s Yellow Moray torpedo tube launch and recovery (TTL&R) technology into the REMUS 620. In-water tests confirmed the UUV’s ability to autonomously navigate, communicate, and dock safely with a shock and fire enclosure capsule (SAFECAP) loaded into a submerged submarine fixture. The vehicle also demonstrated reverse swimout launch and safe separation.

This test marks a key step for the U.S. Navy Submarine Force in deploying autonomous undersea vehicles from torpedo tubes, advancing undersea operational capabilities.