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      BAES engineers successfully demonstrate UK’s first autonomous extra large submarine for military use

      BAES engineers successfully demonstrate UK’s first autonomous extra large submarine for military use

      A team of British engineers based in Portsmouth has successfully demonstrated a new type of autonomous submarine, developed specifically for military use, off the south coast of England. 

      The vessel, called Herne, is what is known as an extra large autonomous underwater vehicle (XLAUV) and has been configured by BAE Systems to enable militaries to monitor and help protect underwater infrastructure across the vast expanses of the seabed, support anti-submarine warfare and provide another means for them to undertake covert surveillance missions. 

      The trials earlier this month saw the craft conduct a pre-programmed intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance mission, powered by Nautomate, the Company’s platform agnostic high specification autonomous military control system. This follows successful trials of the technology on a surface vessel earlier this year.

      Scott Jamieson, Managing Director of BAE Systems’ Maritime Services business said: " Herne is a game changer in the underwater battlespace. It will give our customers a cost effective autonomous capability that will allow for a wide range of missions, end the reliance on crewed platforms, keeping people out of harm’s way and boosting endurance."

      Able to be fitted to existing or new build vessels, Nautomate gives users a cost effective option to boost their autonomous capabilities, allowing them to operate with greater scale, endurance and persistence, whilst removing the need for human crews to operate in arduous or dangerous conditions. This can free up skilled personnel to focus on the tasks where people add most value.  

      An added benefit of underwater autonomy is that, without the need to resupply or carry life support systems, Herne will be able to patrol the sub surface domain for far longer than a crewed alternative.
      It can also be upgraded as new technology or ways of working evolve by using open architecture mission plug-ins.  

      BAE Systems collaborated with Canadian company Cellula Robotics to deliver the demonstrator configuration of Herne XLAUV. This successful collaboration resulted in a “whiteboard to water” capability in just 11 months, demonstrating the pace at which BAE Systems can deliver Herne and other autonomous maritime capabilities. 
      Now that the technology has been successfully demonstrated, the BAE Systems team will continue to refine Herne with further trials, depending on customer requirements. 

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      02 Jun
      2 Jun 2025 – 6 Jun 2025

      Nor-Shipping 2025

      Nor-Shipping is an important meeting place for companies from across the entire maritime value chain and from around the globe.  SMI will be organising and managing a UK Group Pavilion at...
      10 Jun
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      Seawork 2025

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      Defence Attaché Luncheon

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      DSEI 2025

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      KORMARINE 2025

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      04 Nov
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      Indo Pacific 2025

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      07 Nov
      7 Nov 2025 – 10 Nov 2025

      Europort 2025

      Europort, organised in the world port city of Rotterdam, is the international maritime meeting place for innovative technology and complex shipbuilding. With an average of 25,000 professional...
      02 Dec
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      Marintec China 2025

      Launched for over 40 years, Marintec China has become renowned as one of the most authoritative B2B platform for the International Maritime Industry. The 2023 edition of this biennial event...
      25 Mar
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      Asia Pacific Maritime (APM) 2026

      APM (Asia Pacific Maritime) is the premier exhibition and conference in Asia showcasing a complete overview of the vessel sectors services and solutions, technology, vessel equipment, supplies, and...
      01 Jun
      1 Jun 2026 – 5 Jun 2026

      POSIDONIA 2026

      Posidonia brings the whole shipping world to its exhibitors. The international shipping community attends in strength with national pavilions and thousands of visitors.
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      SMM 2026 (Shipbuilding, Machinery and Marine Technology trade fair)

      When it comes to meeting up with all the leading protagonists of the global maritime industry, there’s no place like SMM, one of the leading international maritime trade fairs. 
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      Sea Asia 2027

      SMI will once again organise the UK Group Pavilion at Sea Asia in its role as the official Country Pavilion organiser. The event will return, bigger and bolder on 16-18th March 2027. To register...
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