Kristen Smith 
- Halimar will build ROMULUS 151 vessels alongside partner Breaux Brothers
- HII is spreading fabrication across multiple specialized partners, including Bayou Metals and Australia’s Incat Crowther
- The move aims to speed production and add capacity as Navy and allied demand grows
HII has brought Halimar Shipyard into its industrial partner network for serial production of the ROMULUS unmanned surface vessel family. The shipbuilder announced the addition on Monday.
Halimar, based in Morgan City, Louisiana, will build complete ROMULUS 151 vessels and work alongside Breaux Brothers Enterprises, another partner headquartered in the state, where five of the platforms are currently under construction. HII said the arrangement is intended to speed up production schedules and add capacity as demand grows from the U.S. Navy and allied maritime forces.
Andy Green, executive vice president of HII and president of its mission technologies division, said Halimar’s shipbuilding expertise and Gulf Coast location strengthen HII’s ability to accelerate output, improve supply chain resilience and deliver affordable autonomous systems. Green is an eight-time Wash100 Award winner.
The push to scale unmanned surface vessel production reflects a priority that will headline the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Navy Summit on Aug. 27. Capt. Jeremiah Daley, deputy assistant secretary of the Navy for robotic autonomous systems, will speak on a panel examining how the service is fielding autonomy at scale across a hybrid fleet. Register now to hear senior Navy leaders, defense officials and industry executives discuss how emerging technologies — from autonomous systems to advanced platforms — are shaping the future of naval operations.
How Does Halimar Fit Into HII’s Distributed Shipbuilding Model?
HII is spreading ROMULUS fabrication and assembly among multiple specialized partners rather than concentrating the work at a single yard. The company has also collaborated with aluminum supplier and fabricator Bayou Metals and Sydney-based Incat Crowther. Incat contributes vessel design and engineering expertise to the program. In June, Bayou Metals opened a dedicated production line in Slidell, Louisiana, to fabricate structural components for the vessels.
What Missions Is the ROMULUS USV Designed to Perform?
ROMULUS is a modular family of artificial intelligence-enabled vessels built for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; mine countermeasures; strike operations; counter-unmanned systems; and the launch and recovery of unmanned underwater and aerial vehicles. The platform runs on HII’s Odyssey autonomy software.
The Halimar partnership lands as the program pursues a potential Navy pathway. The service recently selected ROMULUS for at-sea demonstrations under its Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel initiative, positioning the USV for potential follow-on production opportunities.
