BAE Systems has successfully demonstrated a groundbreaking new type of autonomous submarine, developed specifically for military use.

The vessel, called Herne, is classified as an Extra Large Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (XLAUV) and has been configured by BAE Systems to enable militaries to monitor and help protect underwater infrastructure across the vast expanses of the seabed, support anti-submarine warfare, and provide another means for them to undertake covert surveillance missions.

The trials earlier this month saw the vessel conduct a pre-programmed intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance mission, powered by Nautomate, the company’s platform-agnostic, high-specification autonomous military control system. This follows successful trials of the technology on a surface vessel earlier this year.

Capable of integration into existing or new build vessels, Nautomate gives users a cost-effective option to boost their autonomous capabilities, allowing them to operate with greater scale as well as endurance, whilst removing the need for human crews to operate in arduous conditions, thus freeing up personnel to focus on the tasks where human resources add the most value. 

An added benefit of underwater autonomy is that, without the need to resupply or carry life support systems, Herne will be able to patrol the subsurface domain for far longer than a crewed alternative. According to the company, it can also be upgraded as new technology or ways of working evolve by using open architecture mission plug-ins. 

BAE Systems collaborated with Canadian company Cellula Robotics to deliver the demonstrator configuration of Herne XLAUV. This successful collaboration resulted in a “whiteboard to water” capability in just 11 months, demonstrating the pace at which BAE Systems can deliver Herne and other autonomous maritime capabilities.

BAE Systems team will continue to refine Herne with further trials, depending on customer requirements.

Also read: BAE Systems Australia | Next generation uncrewed combat ground vehicle ATLAS unveiled