Overview
At the core of BAE Systems autonomous portfolio is Nautomate®, a high specification fully autonomous military control system that integrates on surface and sub-surface vehicles. The Nautomate® next generation military autonomous control system for un-crewed marine vehicles provides assured mission delivery in complex, congested and contested environments. It can be designed-in for new platforms or retro-fitted to existing platforms. Designed, built and supported by experts in military engineering and technology, Nautomate® provides dependable solutions based on a safety and cyber-security assured architecture.
An intelligent autonomous control system for small and medium sized platforms
Through a trusted partnership approach, we are collaborating with military customers and industry partners inside and outside defence to integrate Nautomate® on a broad range of third party platforms. Nautomate® is an autonomy solution for surface and sub-surface vessels. The scalable architecture makes it suitable for platforms from 6m to 50m in overall length. Supplied either pre-integrated or as an upgrade solution to an existing vessel, Nautomate® provides third party platforms with a high specification autonomous capability that can be easily maintained and upgraded.
Advanced technology features
Using the latest technologies, Nautomate® offers a broad range of both standard and configurable features that can be tailored to any surface or sub-surface vessel.
Smart collision avoidance
Mission plug-ins
Reliable situational awareness
Compact command and control
Applications
Autonomous control systems offer versatile uncrewed capability enabling operations to become faster, easier and safer for sailors and marines. Future uncrewed operations include:
- Anti-piracy operations
- Border control
- ISTAR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance)
- Maritime security and force protection
- Anti-submarine warfare (ASW)
Advancing military capability through payload integration
Leveraging our extensive knowledge of payload integration, the Nautomate® autonomy architecture allows a range of military and commercial payloads to enhance mission performance. Example payload options could include:
- Remotely operated weapon systems
- Non-lethal Vessel Arrest Systems
- 360° panoramic & Pan-Tilt surveillance cameras
- Signal Intelligence (SIGINT) units
- Thin line acoustic towed arrays
- Acoustic hailing & warning systems
Safety assured
We recognise the important role autonomy pays in the future of modern naval warfare. Our knowledge and experience underpins our ability to design and deliver complex autonomous solutions that meet stringent safety and operational performance standards. Safety assurance is at the core of our autonomous control system, with safety systems physically and architecturally segregated, decision-makers can act with confidence. BAE Systems were the first company to be awarded Lloyds Register Unmanned Marine Systems Certification for a military vessel.
Herne® Extra Large Autonomous Underwater Vehicle
Our Nautomate intelligent control system is the essential brain of our Extra Large Autonomous Underwater Vehicle, Herne. Its uses the same common architecture below the surface as it does above the surface. Find out more about Herne XLAUV.