BAE Systems expands its UUV family
BAE Systems on 22 September unveiled its Riptide UUV-12 system, as the newest addition to its portfolio of unmanned undersea systems.
The 30.5cm-diameter vehicle joins three other small UUV variants and marks the entry of BAE Systems into the medium UUV market.
UUV-12 is the first new vehicle of its kind to be launched since the company bought Riptide Autonomous Solutions in 2019.
Jeff Smith, chief scientist in the FAST Labs R&D organisation within BAE Systems, said: ‘With this medium-size platform, we are strategically aligning our modular, open architecture-based UUV platform to meet rapidly expanding applications and requirements.’
UUV-12 can be customised to meet a variety of mission needs, including those that require larger and more power-hungry payloads. Integrated with mission system payloads from BAE Systems, it can deliver combinations of RF signal collection, EW, active acoustics, acoustic IFF, acoustic and RF communications, mission autonomy and navigation.
The UUV can undertake long-endurance missions, BAE Systems added, thanks to its high-efficiency electronics architecture coupled with a highly efficient, low-noise propulsion system.
As part of our promise to deliver comprehensive coverage to our Defence Insight and Premium News subscribers, our curated defence news content provides the latest industry updates, contract awards and programme milestones.
More from Naval Warfare
-
![BAE Systems selected for Sting Ray torpedo upgrade work]()
BAE Systems selected for Sting Ray torpedo upgrade work
The Sting Ray can be deployed from frigates, helicopters and maritime patrol aircraft against submarine targets of all types. It uses an acoustic homing system and navigation system to detect, classify and attack targets autonomously.
-
![Netherlands ties Naval Group into Walrus submarine replacement]()
Netherlands ties Naval Group into Walrus submarine replacement
The new submarines have been scheduled for delivered from the 2030s onwards.
-
![Airbus and Rohde & Schwarz boost Royal Navy connectivity]()
Airbus and Rohde & Schwarz boost Royal Navy connectivity
A Memorandum of Understanding between the companies is aimed at increasing communications resilience for the fleet.
-
![US Navy commissions the last San Antonio-class Flight I vessel]()
US Navy commissions the last San Antonio-class Flight I vessel
Equipped with the capabilities of the other San Antonio Class ships, the USS Richard M. McCool (LPD 29) incorporated additional lessons learned in its design.
-
![Exail selected to enhance navigation capabilities of the French Navy’s OPV]()
Exail selected to enhance navigation capabilities of the French Navy’s OPV
Naval Group has selected the high-tech industrial group to provide its Phins Inertial Navigation Systems and Netans Data Distribution Units to French OPVs.
-
![Elbit upgrades Seagull USV with drones and loitering weapon systems]()
Elbit upgrades Seagull USV with drones and loitering weapon systems
With demand for USVs high, Elbit has added more capabilities to its fully autonomous vessel.
