VESSEL REVIEW | Herne – Unmanned submarine built for seabed warfare and surveillance missions

A team of engineers based in Portsmouth in the UK has successfully demonstrated a new type of autonomous submarine developed specifically for military use.

The vessel, called Herne, is an extra large autonomous underwater vehicle (XLAUV) configured by BAE Systems. It measures 12 metres (39 feet) long by 1.7 metres (5.6 feet) wide and displaces eight to 10 tonnes depending on its payload and energy storage setup.

The craft will enable military operators to monitor and help protect underwater infrastructure, support anti-submarine warfare, and undertake covert surveillance missions. This is because the craft is designed to work specifically in a military application and meet required military standards.

A compact, long-endurance platform

Development of the XLAUV was driven in part by recent incidents of subsea aggression, which have threatened critical underwater infrastructure such as submarine cables and gas pipelines. Without the need to resupply or carry life support systems, Herne will be able to patrol the subsurface domain for far longer periods compared to a crewed vessel. The craft can also be upgraded as new technology becomes available.

Because of the possibility that mission profiles can change, Herne's software has been specifically designed to have the ability to be reconfigured for each operation. Every component of the XLAUV has been intrinsically designed to have a low signature, ensuring low observability especially in hostile areas.

Effective communication between the XLAUV and the host platform is made possible through the installation of robust and secure data and communications packages. The craft’s modular design meanwhile allows for multiple potential payload options such as remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), smaller AUVs, range extenders, counter-drone systems, advanced sonars, towed sensor arrays, electro-optical/infrared cameras, and even underwater weapons. The modules themselves enable access to all internal components for ease of maintenance.

The XLAUV also offers flexibility in terms of deployment. It can be launched and recovered via harbour, surface ship, or submarine.

Design permitting further development

The trials conducted in early November 2024 off the south coast of England saw the craft conduct a pre-programmed intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) mission powered by BAE Systems' proprietary platform-agnostic, high-specification autonomous military control system. This follows successful trials of the technology on a surface vessel earlier this year.

BAE Systems collaborated with Canadian unmanned systems manufacturer Cellula Robotics to deliver the demonstrator configuration of the XLAUV. BAE Systems said that, now that the technology has been successfully demonstrated, the company will continue to refine Herne with further trials, depending on customer requirements.