As software becomes central to how naval platforms operate, shipbuilders are increasingly turning to AI firms to integrate data-driven capabilities directly into modern vessels.
HII and Applied Intuition have signed an agreement to collaborate on integrating artificial intelligence into next-gen naval platforms, with a focus on software-defined ship systems and autonomy.
At the center of the partnership is “Warship OS,” a software layer designed to connect data, sensors, and decision-making functions across an entire vessel.
It aims to streamline how ships process data, speed up the rollout of new capabilities, and expand autonomous operations across both crewed and uncrewed platforms.
Under the agreement, HII will contribute shipbuilding and unmanned systems integration expertise, while Applied Intuition will provide AI software, simulation tools, and relevant operating systems.
“Warship OS is a fundamental shift in how naval capability is developed and deployed,” said Peter Ludwig, co-founder and CTO of Applied Intuition.
“By bringing an AI-defined approach to maritime platforms, we can dramatically accelerate the pace of innovation and give operators the flexibility to adapt to evolving mission needs in real-time.”
AI-Defined Capabilities
Initial efforts will focus on integrating the Warship OS software into HII’s unmanned surface vessels, particularly the ROMULUS family currently under development.
By coordinating functions such as navigation, autonomy, and mission systems through a unified software layer, the approach is expected to reduce integration complexity and improve overall system performance.
A second line of effort will explore extending the architecture to crewed naval platforms.
This includes early design and engineering work aligned with US Navy requirements, with an emphasis on interoperability and faster capability updates.
The agreement also leaves room for future integration across additional platforms, including unmanned underwater systems such as the REMUS family.
