BAE Systems' Herne XLAUV concept on display at Euronaval 2024 in Paris. (Kate Tringham/Janes)
BAE Systems, in partnership with Canadian marine technology company Cellula Robotics, is poised to start the first in-water capability demonstration of its Herne extra-large autonomous underwater vehicle (XLAUV) in the coming week.
Speaking to Janes at the Euronaval 2024 exhibition in Paris, held from 4 to 7 November, Tim O'Neill, business development manager, BAE Systems Maritime Underwater, said the initial sea trials are set to start on 11 November and will continue for a two-week period.
The demonstration will take place at a facility on the south coast of England in front of a selected audience that includes international customers and industry partners.
The aim of the demonstration is to showcase BAE Systems' advanced autonomous capabilities in an intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) scenario.
BAE Systems joined forces with Cellula Robotics in 2023 to fast-track the development of a militarised version of Cellula Robotics' 12 m-long Solus-XR that could be used to test the ‘brains' of BAE's concept for an XLAUV.
O'Neill said development of the prototype has taken place at Cellula Robotics facilities in Vancouver, and the XLAUV arrived in the UK in August 2024 to continue the setting to work of the different payloads and system solutions that will be showcased during the next two weeks.
The initial ISR configuration is focused around a mission package for basic navigational purposes and mission autonomy, including an electro-optic/infrared camera and electronic surveillance and communications systems that will be managed by the company's Nautomate intelligent autonomous control system.
“During the demonstration, Nautomate will run the platform,” O'Neill said. “This is all about it doing the thinking for itself based on the mission parameters it has been set.”
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