BAE Systems has successfully demonstrated “Herne,” an extra-large autonomous underwater vehicle (XLAUV) designed for military applications. This vessel is engineered to monitor and protect underwater infrastructure, support anti-submarine warfare operations, and conduct covert surveillance missions. It is powered by Nautomate, BAE Systems’ high-specification autonomous military control system for both naval surface and subsurface vehicles. BAE collaborated with the Canadian firm Cellula Robotics to develop the demonstrator configuration of the Herne XLAUV, enabling the progression from initial concept to actual deployment and testing within an impressive 11-month timeframe.
