Huntington Ingalls Industries (NYSE: HII) has finalized its acquisition of Pocasset, Mass.-based marine robotics provider Hydroid from Kongsberg Maritime for approximately $350M as part of efforts to expand its capabilities in the autonomous and unmanned maritime systems market.
HII said Thursday it will operate Hydroid as part of unmanned systems business unit within its technical solutions division, which now includes capabilities in small and medium unmanned underwater vehicles with the addition of Hydroid’s Remus and Seaglider autonomous underwater vehicles.
“The combination of HII and Hydroid brings together the full range of UUVs,” said Andy Green, an executive vice president and president of HII Technical Solutions and a 2020 Wash100 award winner. “Combined, we can now offer a comprehensive suite of autonomous underwater vehicle systems that address our customers’ needs.”
Duane Fotheringham, who previously served as president and chairman of the board at Hydroid, will report to Green as president of unmanned systems. He started his career at Hydroid in 2008 as VP of operations with oversight of research, development, engineering and production of the company’s Remus AUVs. He previously served aboard USS Salt Lake City as a nuclear submarine officer.
Mary White, formerly senior director of unmanned maritime systems at HII Technical Solutions, will report to Fotheringham and serve as VP of operations and strategy for the unmanned systems business. She has three decades of experience in business development, defense platform tech operations and mergers and acquisitions.
HII also announced the formation of a strategic alliance with Kongsberg Maritime to jointly offer maritime and naval products and services to U.S. government clients and potential customers worldwide.
