DSEI 2025: Herne XLAUV Emerges as New British Navy Weapon Against Submarines and Coastal Threats.

At the DSEI 2025 exhibition in London, BAE Systems presented its new extra-large autonomous underwater vehicle, the Herne XLAUV. Designed to meet the operational requirements of modern navies, this system is characterized by a modular architecture, extended endurance, and diversified mission capabilities. It is intended for long-duration operations of up to forty-five days, with a range of five thousand kilometers and an operational depth of up to five thousand meters.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link

The Herne XLAUV is intended for several types of military operations, including anti-submarine warfare, the protection of critical infrastructure, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions. (Picture source: Army Recognition)

The Herne XLAUV is intended for several types of military operations, including anti-submarine warfare, the protection of critical infrastructure, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions. Its modular design allows for the integration of different payloads, such as advanced sonar, remotely operated underwater vehicles, countermeasures, or even weapons. The design incorporates an autonomy system based on Nautomate, which ensures vehicle control and rapid reconfiguration of missions according to operational requirements. The Herne also includes acoustic signature management to reduce detection by adversaries and relies on secure communications to transmit data across a broader military digital network.

From a technical perspective, the vehicle is designed to fit into a standard forty-foot container, simplifying logistics and deployment in different environments. Its propulsion is powered by advanced battery technologies, with the option of hydrogen fuel cells to further increase endurance. The modular architecture allows its internal compartments to be reconfigured quickly, whether for hosting sensor systems or deploying payloads from the underside of the hull, including armaments. The system can be launched and recovered from a port, a surface vessel, or a submarine, offering operational flexibility. Maintenance is also simplified through direct access to internal modules.

In November 2024, a team of British engineers validated for the first time under real conditions the autonomous capability of an extra-large submarine designed specifically for military use, during trials conducted off the south coast of England. These trials involved a pre-programmed intelligence mission, also controlled by the Nautomate system. This demonstration followed earlier trials conducted on a surface vessel.

The first configuration of the Herne XLAUV was developed in collaboration with the Canadian company Cellula Robotics. This partnership produced an operational prototype in only eleven months, highlighting the rapid pace of development. In 2024, a demonstration in UK waters confirmed Herne’s autonomous behaviors in an intelligence scenario. In 2025, BAE Systems and Cellula Robotics signed a ten-year strategic partnership agreement to continue the development and market delivery of the vehicle.

The presentation of Herne at DSEI 2025 reflects a growing trend toward the adoption of autonomous underwater systems, enabling navies to extend their maritime coverage while reducing crew exposure. The manufacturer emphasizes an international cooperation strategy, bringing together companies of different sizes to integrate evolving technologies into the platform. The emergence and spread of this type of vehicle represent a significant evolution in how navies prepare their operations in the underwater domain.