The US Department of War’s Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) has awarded robotic systems manufacturer Kongsberg a US$54 million extension to a prototype other transaction agreement for autonomous underwater capabilities.
The company said the extension principally covers the delivery of a broad range of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) and associated components. It described the award as a continuation of its cooperation with the DIU and the US Navy.
Kongsberg said it has entered into AUV contracts worth a combined NOK1.7 billion (US$180 million) across defence and commercial markets so far in 2026.
In February 2024, the DIU awarded prototype agreements to Oceaneering International, Kongsberg Discovery and Anduril Industries under a large displacement unmanned underwater vehicle initiative run with the US Navy's Program Office for Advanced Undersea Systems.
Kongsberg Discovery's 24-month contract under that initiative covered AUV capabilities. The company said the contract could lead the navy to acquire the company’s Hugin Endurance and Hugin Superior deep-water systems.
The first Hugin Superior for the DIU and the US Navy completed acceptance testing in Norway in early 2025. The AUV has an endurance of 70 hours.
The larger Hugin Endurance can operate for 15 days and has a range of 1,200 nautical miles.
In 2025, Kongsberg Discovery said it would begin Hugin production in the US, initially at its facility in Lynnwood, Washington. At the time, the company said 12 navies were using Hugin for operational missions.