WASHINGTON ― Huntington Ingalls Industries introduced Monday it has acquired the autonomy enterprise of Spatial Built-in Programs ― its newest transfer to broaden its unmanned prowess.
Roughly 50 workers from SIS, primarily based in Virginia Seashore, Va., joined HII’s Technical Options’ Unmanned Programs enterprise group in a transaction that closed Dec. 31, HII’s announcement mentioned. The phrases weren’t disclosed. SIS president and CEO Sam Lewis will lead HII’s unmanned unmanned floor vessel efforts, reporting to Duane Fotheringham who leads the corporate’s unmanned programs enterprise group.
“We’re excited to welcome the SIS autonomy enterprise workers to the HII household,” mentioned Andy Inexperienced, HII government vice chairman and president of technical options. “2020 was a big 12 months for HII within the unmanned programs trade, and this acquisition is the proper complement to our current portfolio and strategic partnerships.”
In keeping with Huntington Ingalls, Spatial Built-in Programs have fielded its unmanned options ― together with multi-vehicle collaborative autonomy, sensor fusion and notion ― for greater than 6,000 hours on 23 vessel sorts. The Protection Division is utilizing SIS unmanned applied sciences for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, harbor patrol, excessive worth unit escort missions, payload supply, mine clearance, and transporting provides, mentioned HII.
The transfer final week follows HII’s acquisition of Hydroid in March, a strategic alliance with Kongsberg Maritime; an fairness funding in Sea Machines Robotics, Inc., of Boston, in July, and the groundbreaking on a brand new HII Unmanned Programs Middle of Excellence, in Hampton, Va., in September.