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The demonstrator project is designed to showcase the capabilities of the new vehicle, known as Herne, on an underwater robot developed by Canadian firm Cellula Robotics.
The underwater trials are due to take place in the second half of 2024 at a facility on the south coast of England.
Herne’s autonomous activities will be put to the test in an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) scenario, BAE Systems said.
Based on seven years of development in surface autonomy, the vehicle’s command chain and software are designed to be reconfigured for each operation.
“Recent acts of sub-sea aggression highlight the strategic importance of the underwater domain, the need to protect the critical national infrastructure within it and the inherent challenges,” a BAE announcement said.
“Autonomous platforms like Herne could have a role in helping militaries overcome the challenge that the vast expanses of the underwater battlespace present, enabling them to monitor much larger areas without the limitations of a human crew and in a far more cost-effective way.”
The XLAUV’s adaptable design, which according to reports could be 2m in diameter, will make it suitable for operations including anti-submarine warfare, ISR, and electronic warfare, BAE said.
“My aim is to create a capability that is faster, more capable, more flexible, cheaper for customers to buy and provides navies with a way to protect critical national infrastructure,” said Scott Jamieson, managing director of maritime services.
Eric Jackson, president of Cellula Robotics, said: “As we embark on this ground-breaking partnership with BAE Systems, we recognise the critical role autonomous platforms play in addressing the evolving challenges of the underwater domain. Recent sub-sea aggression incidents underscore the importance of safeguarding our underwater critical infrastructure.
“We are thrilled to collaborate with BAE Systems and look forward to the demonstration, setting the course for a future of enhanced underwater security and intelligence.”
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