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Hugin Superior AUV Successfully Completes Testing for US Navy.
Kongsberg Discovery announced the successful completion of acceptance testing for the Hugin Superior Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) system, in collaboration with the U.S. Navy and the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU). This significant milestone marks an important advancement in the U.S. Navy's underwater capabilities, enhancing its operational abilities for several critical missions.
The Hugin Superior AUV has now been officially delivered to the U.S. Navy, following rigorous testing carried out earlier this year in Norway. (Picture source: Kongsberg)
The Hugin Superior AUV has now been officially delivered to the U.S. Navy, following rigorous testing carried out earlier this year in Norway. This success follows the award of a 24-month framework contract for Large Diameter Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (LDUUV) by the DIU to Kongsberg, highlighting the growing relationship between the company and the U.S. Navy. The vehicle will now enter real-world operations, further strengthening the Navy's ability to conduct Subsea and Seabed Warfare (SSW), Intelligence Preparation of the Operational Environment (IPoE), Mine Countermeasures (MCM), and the inspection of essential underwater infrastructure.
Rich Patterson, Vice President of Sales for Uncrewed Platforms at Kongsberg, expressed his enthusiasm about the expanding relationship with the U.S. Navy. “Kongsberg is excited to extend our partnership with the U.S. Navy and provide the cutting-edge capabilities that come with our Hugin Superior AUV system,” Patterson stated. He also commended the DIU for its efficient and accelerated process, adding, “We applaud the DIU team for enabling this transfer of capabilities to the warfighter at an accelerated pace and we look forward to valuable operator feedback and the continued evolution of our product line.”
The Hugin Superior AUV, a proven system in both the commercial and military sectors since 2019, offers unmatched operational capabilities for various underwater missions. Its design enables full ocean depth operations, with over 70 hours of endurance and a navigation accuracy of less than 0.04% of the distance traveled. The AUV is equipped with multiple advanced mapping and imaging sensors, positioning it as a leading technology in the large AUV market.
This system is part of Kongsberg’s long history of developing autonomous underwater vehicles, beginning with the first Hugin dive in 1993 and culminating in the record-breaking multi-week mission of the Hugin Endurance last year. Integrated with Kongsberg's advanced acoustic sensors, autonomy, navigation, and battery technology, the Hugin Superior AUV is designed to deliver the highest quality data in the industry, further solidifying its position as the benchmark in autonomous underwater vehicles.
With the successful testing of the Hugin Superior AUV, Kongsberg strengthens its position as a key player in advancing autonomous underwater vehicle technology, providing essential support to military forces and commercial customers worldwide.