British firm unveils herne drone, poised to redefine naval warfare

Engineers from British company BAE Systems, in collaboration with Canadian company Cellula Robotics, transitioned from a digital concept to a functional demonstrator of the autonomous underwater drone called Herne in just 11 months. It is classified as an extra-large autonomous Underwater Vehicle (XLAUV).

According to Scott Jamieson, Managing Director of Maritime Programs at BAE Systems, "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."

Herne is designed to monitor and protect underwater infrastructure on a large scale, support operations against enemy submarines, and conduct covert reconnaissance missions. Its unmanned nature offers significant advancements, as it does not require life support systems or provisions for a crew.

This allows reconnaissance operations to last longer, and more space can be dedicated to the power source without increasing the drone's size. Other advantages include quieter operation, making it difficult for sonars to detect. Additionally, the drone can be deployed to highly dangerous locations, as losing such a unit is far less costly for the command than losing a manned vehicle.

Herne is expected to utilize the autonomous military navigation system Nautomate, which can be implemented on existing and newly built ships. This feature, combined with Herne's open architecture, facilitates easy integration with current naval fleets, enhancing operational awareness and allowing for new capabilities in the future.

A significant benefit of the deep-sea autonomy system is its ability to conduct long-term patrols without replenishing supplies or life support systems, positioning Herne ahead of traditional manned units. The system's open architecture also allows for further improvements to the vehicle as new technologies become available.

For instance, ships outfitted with underwater drones would be ideal for patrolling assets like underwater fiber-optic cables, which are crucial to modern nations. Consider the recent damage to the underwater cable between Germany and Finland.

The dimensions of the drone have not been specified, but some concepts suggest it fits within a standard shipping container, potentially having a diameter of around 6 feet and a length of up to 39 feet. Depending on the configuration, its equipment may vary, including a towed sonar, radar, or an optoelectronic head with a day or thermal camera.