Kongsberg successfully completes Hugin AUV demonstrations for US Navy.

According to a PR published by Kongsberg on May 29, 2024, Kongsberg Discovery (KONGSBERG) successfully completed a week-long series of in-water demonstrations for the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) and the U.S. Navy, showcasing their HUGIN Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV). The demonstrations took place in Horten, Norway.
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Hugin Endurance Autonomous Underwater Vehicle. (Picture source: Kongsberg)

Kongsberg Discovery secured a contract with the DIU in January to rapidly deliver HUGIN AUV capabilities to the U.S. Military. The recent visit allowed U.S. delegations to observe operations, design philosophy, systems approach, sensors, batteries, navigation, autonomy, manufacturing processes, and physical vehicle portfolio. Attendees also engaged in hands-on familiarization with user interfaces.

Kongsberg's HUGIN AUVs are designed for dual-use purposes, catering to both commercial and defense markets. The latest model, HUGIN Endurance, is built to support long-term, unsupported missions with features such as greater redundancy, a new autonomous mission management system, and enhanced situational awareness.

Currently, 12 navies use HUGIN AUVs for missions including Intelligence Preparation of the Operational Environment (IPoE), Mine Counter Measure (MCM), Subsea and Seabed Warfare (SSW), and seafloor mapping.

The HUGIN family includes multiple models suitable for the LDUUV market, with HUGIN Endurance standing out as the largest and most advanced. Launched in 2021, this AUV can operate autonomously from shore for up to 15 days and travel up to 2200 km (1200 nm) with a full complement of batteries. The vehicle’s large configurable volume allows it to carry a mixture of batteries and custom payloads as needed.

The HUGIN AUVs are particularly valuable for subsea and seabed warfare tasks, such as surveillance, reconnaissance, and offensive operations against underwater infrastructure. Their advanced sensors and autonomous capabilities allow them to operate undetected.