WASHINGTON -- During DSEI in London, American shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) announced it is building a new family of autonomous, unmanned surface vessels (USVs) dubbed Romulus.

The flagship vessel, Romulus 190, is under construction and is part of a family of USVs powered by HII’s Odyssey Autonomous Control System (ACS) software suite. The 190-foot USV is designed for speeds exceeding 25 knots and is capable of a minimum range of 2,500 nautical miles while carrying four 40-foot ISO intermodal containers on the payload deck. According to HII, Romulus is designed to meet the current and emerging requirements of the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, joint forces, and allies.

Romulus 190 is being developed in partnership with Breaux Brothers, Beier Integrated Systems, and Incat Crowther. This first USV is expected to be completed in roughly 12 months. According to HII’s press release, the company expects to build up to six vessels concurrently and deliver four or five per year.

Source: HII
Associated URL: https://hii.com/news/hii-unveils-ai-enabled-romulus-family-of-unmanned-surface-vessels-powered-by-odyssey-to-strengthen-the-fleet/

COSTA MESA, Calif. - Anduril is urging the U.S. Navy to adopt its Ghost Shark Extra-Large Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (XL-AUV), recently awarded a $1.7 billion AUD contract by the Royal Australian Navy. Developed in just three years with $100 million in joint funding from Anduril and Australia, Ghost Shark is positioned as a cost-effective, rapidly deployable alternative to the U.S. Navy’s delayed and more expensive Orca XLUUV program.

Anduril officials emphasize that Ghost Shark is already operationally tested, with U.S.-built payload modules undergoing trials off California. The company has also opened a manufacturing facility in Rhode Island to support potential U.S. production. Designed for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and strike missions, Ghost Shark will complement Australia’s future AUKUS Virginia-class submarines and expand its undersea warfare capacity.

With deliveries expected by year’s end and full operations in early 2026, Anduril highlights the program as a rare example of rapid, affordable defense innovation that allied navies could replicate.

Source: USNI News
Associated URL: https://news.usni.org/2025/09/10/anduril-pitches-ghost-shark-xluuv-to-u-s-navy
Author: Mallory Shelbourne 

WASHINGTON - The House of Representatives passed an $893 billion defense authorization bill on Wednesday, advancing a measure that includes a military pay raise and significant acquisition reforms but drew sharp opposition from most Democrats. The bill, approved in a 231-196 vote, authorizes a 3.8% pay increase for service members for 2026 and an increase in the military’s total force size by approximately 26,000 troops. A key provision aims to overhaul the Pentagon’s acquisition process to speed the fielding of new systems and technology.

The legislation’s passage was highly partisan, with only 17 Democrats joining Republicans in support. Democratic leadership cited the inclusion of language restricting health care and service for transgender individuals, as well as limits on abortion services, as reasons for their opposition. Republican leadership also blocked Democratic amendments that would have curtailed the president’s authority to use National Guard forces for domestic law enforcement.

Despite the divisions, lawmakers from both parties joined to overwhelmingly defeat a proposal that would have eliminated most security assistance for Ukraine. They also passed an amendment to rescind two open-ended war powers authorizations dating back to 2003. The bill now heads to conference negotiations, where House lawmakers will work to reconcile their version with a Senate proposal that is roughly $30 billion larger. A final compromise is expected later this fall.

Source: Military Times
Associated URL: https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2025/09/10/house-passes-893-billion-defense-policy-bill-with-war-powers-repeal/