REMUS (vehicle)

Models

There are a number of variants of the REMUS; all are torpedo-shaped vessels with reconfigurable sensors.

REMUS 6000

The largest model is the REMUS 6000 at 3.84 metres (12.6 ft) long and 71 centimetres (28 in) in diameter; it is named after its maximum diving depth of 6000m. It can travel at speeds of up to 5 knots (9.3 km/h) and has an endurance of up to 22 hours. It was developed through cooperation between the Naval Oceanographic Office, the Office of Naval Research, and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI).

In 2018 the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) received an order of New Generation REMUS 6000 AUVs. The New Generation REMUS 6000 is based on the legacy REMUS 6000 platform with "a modular architecture that allows for the addition of multiple payloads including customer sensor packages, forward fins and additional battery sections.” Hydroid also claims that the New Generation model has increased endurance.

REMUS 620

In November 2022, the development of the REMUS 620 was announced. It is an enhanced version of the REMUS 300, built to the same size as the REMUS 600. It has a battery endurance of up to 110 hours and a range of up to 275 nmi (509 km), depending on installed modules, and a sprint speed of 8 knots (15 km/h). With a synthetic-aperture sonar installed, battery life is reduced to 78 hours with a range of 200 nmi (370 km). Design missions include mine countermeasures, hydrographic surveys, intelligence collection, surveillance, cyber warfare and electronic warfare. It can also launch smaller UUVs or UAVs. It can be launched from submarines, surface ships, small manned or unmanned craft, and helicopters. It can be recovered underwater by submarines, and recovery back into torpedo tubes is being developed at Woods Hole.

REMUS 600

The midsized REMUS 600 was previously known as the REMUS 12.75, so called due to its 12.75-inch (32.4 cm) diameter. It was renamed to the 600 to correspond to the maximum depth at which it can operate (600m). It can travel at speeds of up to 5 knots (9.3 km/h) and has an endurance of up to 70 hours at its standard cruising speed of 3 knots (5.6 km/h).

A US Navy derivative of this platform designated Mk 18 Mod 2 Kingfish was manufactured from 2012 to 2023. The Mk 18 Mod 2 is equipped with side-scan sonar, a downward-looking video camera, ADCP, GPS, beam attenuation meter (BAM) to measure turbidity, and a conductivity temperature depth (CTD) sensor.

A total of 175 REMUS 600s were delivered to customers in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia and Japan.

On September 27, 2026, the IRGC said it had captured a Remus 600 unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) operating in the Strait of Hormuz. According to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the vehicle was on a reconnaissance mission when it was intercepted in a coordinated operation that involved intelligence and electronic warfare.

REMUS 300

The small-sized REMUS 300 is a development of the REMUS 100, announced in April 2021. It has a length of 2.3 m (7 ft 7 in) and a diameter of 19 cm (7.5 in). The standard REMUS 300 weighs 56 kg (123 lb), but its modular design permits a 45.4 kg (100 lb) expeditionary configuration to a 67.6 kg (149 lb) long-endurance configuration. It can be configured with lithium-ion batteries for an endurance of up to 30 hours, with a maximum range of 165 km (89 nmi). It can dive to 305 m (1,001 ft) and has a speed of up to 5 knots (9.3 km/h).

It is designed for mine countermeasures, search and recovery, rapid environmental assessment, hydrographic survey, anti-submarine warfare, and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. It has civil applications in the fields of marine archaeology, renewables, and offshore oil and gas.

In March 2022, the U.S. Navy selected the REMUS 300 as its next generation small UUV (SUUV). As of 2024, the system was also being adopted by the Royal Navy's Mine and Threat Exploitation Group.

REMUS 100

The REMUS 100 takes its name from its max operating depth of 100 meters. The US Navy operates a derivative of the REMUS 100, in addition to the standard REMUS 100, designated Mk 18 Mod 1 “Swordfish”. It can travel at speeds of up to 5 knots (9.3 km/h) and has an endurance of up to 22 hours at its standard cruising speed of 3 knots (5.6 km/h).

REMUS M3V

The REMUS M3V (Micro 300 Meter Rated Vehicle) is the smallest in the range and is designed to fit the A-type sonobouy design envelope (91.5 x 12.4 cm). The M3V can travel at 10 knots and dive to 300 meters, apparently uniquely among the REMUS family the M3V can be airdropped.