Kongsberg Discovery has successfully completed acceptance testing for its HUGIN Superior autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) system. Kongsberg released a statement on Feb. 24 highlighting its partnership with the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) and the U.S. Navy. The vehicle, tested earlier this year in Norway, is set to enhance the Navy’s undersea capabilities.
The acceptance testing follows a 24-month frame contract awarded by DIU in 2024 for large diameter unmanned underwater vehicles (LDUUV). The statement noted that within just a year of the contract's signing, Kongsberg delivered the first HUGIN Superior AUV, demonstrating the accelerated timeline that DIU aims to foster in adopting commercial technology for national security applications.
Kongsberg said its HUGIN Superior is designed for a range of undersea missions, including Subsea and Seabed Warfare (SSW), Intelligence Preparation of the Operational Environment (IPoE), Mine Countermeasures (MCM), and infrastructure inspection. With a full ocean depth design, over 70 hours of endurance, and a navigational accuracy of less than 0.04% of the distance traveled, Kongsberg noted the AUV is built for high reliability and performance in complex underwater operations.
With the successful delivery of the first HUGIN Superior under this contract, Kongsberg said its AUV technology is positioned to play an increasingly important role in the U.S. Navy’s undersea operations.
