Herne XLAUV

Herne is BAE Systems’ modular extra-large autonomous underwater vehicle for persistent naval missions. Its configurable hull, payload sections and Nautomate control stack support ISR, anti-submarine warfare and infrastructure protection.

Facts

  • Company: BAE Systems
  • Type: Extra Large Autonomous Uuv
  • Positioning: Herne XLAUV
  • Function: Persistent naval undersea missions
  • Audience: Navies and defence integrators
  • Status: Development
  • Website: https://www.baesystems.com/en/product~herne--xlauv~?componentId=contentListing-cc091bae-9110-48bf-95c4-d206eb1eac6c&searchPageNo=2

About

About Herne XLAUV

Herne XLAUV is a modular extra-large autonomous underwater vehicle developed by BAE Systems with Cellula Robotics for naval missions. Adaptable hull and payload sections accommodate underwater and surface mission equipment, while BAE's Nautomate control architecture manages autonomous navigation, mission reconfiguration and secure battlespace integration.

Mission configurations cover anti-submarine warfare, critical-infrastructure protection and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. Herne completed in-water demonstrations in the United Kingdom and Canada during 2024. BAE Systems and Cellula Robotics signed a ten-year strategic partnership agreement in 2025 to continue development and market delivery, with a market-ready craft targeted by the end of 2026.

Specifications

  • Platform Type: Extra-large autonomous underwater vehicle (XLAUV)
  • Payload Architecture: Modular adaptable hull sections and flexible mission payload space
  • Mission Roles: Anti-submarine warfare, critical infrastructure protection and ISR
  • Control Model: BAE Systems Nautomate autonomous control architecture

Market context

Navies and defence integrators

  • Peer Group: Defence Mission Systems, Large Uncrewed Underwater Vehicle
  • Workflow: Underwater Robotics
  • Capability: Remote operation

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