Miles Jamison 
- Bayou Metal Supply & Manufacturing has launched a dedicated production line for ROMULUS vessels
- The facility will fabricate key structural components for the autonomous maritime platform
- Bayou Metals supplies marine-grade aluminum for HII’s ROMULUS USV
HII announced that its strategic partner, Bayou Metal Supply & Manufacturing, has launched a dedicated production line to support the construction of ROMULUS unmanned surface vessels.
How Will the New Production Line Support Romulus?
The military shipbuilder said Monday the dedicated facility in Slidell, Louisiana, will perform precision cutting, bending, welding and assembly of major structural components for the autonomous vessel platform. Completed assemblies will be delivered to Breaux Brothers Enterprises for final integration.
Bayou Metals also serves as a supplier of marine-grade aluminum for the program and has established manufacturing capacity aligned with ROMULUS manufacturing requirements.
Andy Green, executive vice president of HII and president of HII’s Mission Technologies division, said the partnership is intended to support a transition from prototype development to larger-scale production.
“Their ability to combine material supply with advanced fabrication strengthens our production model, reduces risk, and accelerates delivery of the ROMULUS USV to the fleet,” the eight-time Wash100 Award winner added.
How Does the Partnership Support Shipbuilding Operations?
According to HII, coordination between Bayou Metals and other industry partners helps streamline material sourcing and fabrication activities before final assembly. The company said the approach is designed to boost production efficiency and support more consistent ROMULUS vessel output in multiple shipyards. The effort also contributes to expanding Gulf Coast shipbuilding capacity and workforce development within the maritime industrial base.
The latest announcement follows a series of manufacturing investments aimed at expanding HII’s ROMULUS unmanned surface vessel program. In March, the company unveiled plans for an expanded assembly facility at Breaux Brothers and launched its High-Yield Production Robotics initiative to support serial vessel manufacturing. The effort also comes as the U.S. Navy recently selected ROMULUS for at-sea demonstrations under its Medium USV initiative, positioning the platform for potential follow-on procurement opportunities.
