- HUGIN Autonomous Vehicles to Be Assembled in Washington.
- Kongsberg Expands U.S. Investment Amid Rising Defence Demand.
- Kongsberg Strengthens U.S. Supply Chain with Local AUV Production.
Kongsberg Discovery, a frontrunner in cutting-edge robotics and sensor technology, is gearing up to kick off production of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) right here in the United States. The company excels in hydroacoustic, optical, and scientific sensor systems, all seamlessly integrated with advanced data networks and visualisation tools. This combination allows for accurate ocean mapping, monitoring, and surveying, reports Kongsberg.
A Strategic Move to Address Rising U.S. Demand
This decision to start domestic production represents a strategic pivot designed to meet the increasing U.S. demand for sophisticated subsea technologies.
“This strategic decision reflects our commitment to support the growing demand for advanced subsea technology in the U.S. market. By establishing domestic production capabilities, we aim to strengthen our U.S.-based supply chain and enhance our responsiveness to the evolving needs of our government and commercial customers. This demand has increased as global tension has risen,” says Martin Wien Fjell, President of Kongsberg Discovery.
Leveraging HUGIN’s Success and Expanding Investment
Kongsberg Discovery has successfully delivered its HUGIN AUVs to the U.S. Navy, along with various government, commercial, and academic institutions. The increasing acknowledgement of HUGIN’s impressive capabilities, particularly among U.S. defence clients, has motivated the company to broaden its investment efforts.
“Due to increased demand from the defence sector and growing recognition of our unmanned underwater vehicles’ (UUV) capabilities among U.S. Navy customers, a strategic decision has been made to expand investment in the United States,” says Fjell. He adds that ongoing product development continues to align with key U.S. naval priorities: “Kongsberg Discovery plan to start the HUGIN production at our existing facility in Lynnwood, Washington. The future production facility is yet to be decided,” he says.
HUGIN’s Contribution to Global Naval Operations
At present, 12 navies are utilising HUGIN AUVs for a range of practical missions, such as Intelligence Preparation of the Operational Environment, Mine Counter Measures, Subsea and Seabed Warfare, and comprehensive seafloor mapping.
“We are excited to bring our many years of AUV experience in support of the U.S. military. This is a major project that supports the management’s decision to invest in a production and assembly facility for HUGIN in the US,” Fjell continued.
Established U.S. Presence and Ongoing Commitment
Since 1989, Kongsberg Discovery U.S. (previously known as Kongsberg Underwater Technology LLC) has been a committed supplier and integrator of sonar systems for oceanographic surveys and research missions in the United States. The company proudly supports sonar systems on more than 30 U.S. government and academic vessels, including the T-AGS 60 class and T-ARC, and has also seen significant success in the commercial sector.
In addition to traditional sonar systems, KD U.S. has provided uncrewed platform solutions to the U.S. government.
KONGSBERG’s North American Growth Strategy
With approximately 900 employees spread across 15 locations in the U.S. and Canada, KONGSBERG has established a solid presence in North America. All of its business divisions are actively engaged in the region, and the company has plans to further grow its footprint in the coming years.
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Source: Kongsberg
