According to HII, its partnership with Bayou Metals is essential to delivering capability at speed and scale.
SLIDELL, La.—Military shipbuilder HII reported in July that Bayou Metal Supply & Manufacturing (Bayou Metals), a strategic partner in the serial production of HII’s ROMULUS unmanned surface vessels (USVs), has launched a dedicated manufacturing line to support accelerated construction of the platform.
The new production line, located in Slidell, Louisiana, provides precision cutting, bending, and welding. It also provides assembly of major structural components into complete assembly units ready for shipment to Breaux Brothers Enterprises for final integration into the ROMULUS USV platform, according to a release by HII.
Workers at Bayou Metal Supply & Manufacturing’s facility in Slidell, Louisiana, fabricate structural components for HII’s ROMULUS unmanned surface vessel (USV) program. Bayou Metal, a strategic partner in the serial production of ROMULUS, recently launched a dedicated manufacturing line that provides precision cutting, bending, welding, and assembly of major structural units for shipment to Breaux Brothers Enterprises, where final integration of the USV platform takes place. (Photo courtesy Bayou Metal Supply & Manufacturing)
Bayou Metals is playing a critical role on HII’s ROMULUS USV shipbuilding team as a strategic aluminum supply and fabrication partner. The company is providing marine-grade aluminum while establishing dedicated manufacturing capacity to meet the ROMULUS USV production schedule, HII said in the release.
“As we move from prototype to production, partnerships like Bayou Metals are essential to delivering capability at speed and scale,” said Andy Green, executive vice president of HII and president of HII’s Mission Technologies division, in a statement. “Their ability to combine material supply with advanced fabrication strengthens our production model, reduces risk, and accelerates delivery the ROMULUS USV to the fleet.”
“Bayou Metal is proud to continue its longstanding relationship with and support of industry leaders such as HII and Breaux Brothers,” said William Stout, chief executive officer of Bayou Metals, in the release. “We remain committed to providing world-class service, quality materials, and trusted partnerships to the marine and shipbuilding sectors for years to come.”
According to HII, its integrated coordination with Bayou Metals and other manufacturing partners ensures avoiding delays in securing materials and building parts. It also makes production more efficient by completing most of the setup work before final assembly at the shipyard.
“This model enhances throughput and supports faster, more repeatable serial production of ROMULUS vessels across multiple shipyards,” the company said in the release.
In addition to improving manufacturing performance, the effort is said to support expansion of the U.S. shipbuilding industrial base by growing Gulf Coast manufacturing capacity and building a larger skilled workforce.
In addition to the vessel currently under construction, HII recently announced plans for the production of four ROMULUS 151 vessels to be built by Breaux Brothers Enterprises in Louisiana. The announcement signals a rapid transition to initial production as HII accelerates delivery of autonomous surface capability to the U.S. Navy and allied partners.
“ROMULUS represents a shift in how we deliver unmanned capability to the fleet,” Green said. “We are combining shipbuilding experience, scalable manufacturing, proven autonomy, and strong industry partnerships to move quickly from prototype to operational deployment.”
Built for scale and mission flexibility
ROMULUS is a modular family of AI-enabled USVs designed to support a wide range of missions, including intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), mine countermeasures, strike operations, counter-unmanned systems, and the launch and recovery of unmanned underwater and aerial vehicles.
Engineered for serial, repeatable production, the platform combines endurance, global reach, and modular adaptability, enabling scalability across multiple vessel sizes while maintaining a common manufacturing and autonomy baseline, the company said.
Headquartered in Virginia, HII is reported to be America’s largest shipbuilder. The company delivers what it described as “the world’s most powerful ships and all-domain mission technologies, including unmanned systems, to U.S. and allied defense customers.” It is also reportedly the largest producer of unmanned underwater vehicles for the U.S. Navy and the world.