THE UK’s “first” extra-large stealth submarine, intended to support military forces in secret missions, has taken to the seas.
The new vessel, called Herne, was deployed off the Portsmouth coast earlier this month by teams at BAE Systems, the UK’s largest defence firm.
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Beyond undertaking “covert surveillance missions”, Herne is expected to help militaries protect underwater infrastructure, according to BAE, which built the sub in collaboration with Canadian company Cellula Robotics.
Surveillance ships and subs are used to protect critical underwater infrastructure like subsea cables used for internet and energy.
It will also engage in “anti-submarine warfare”, the firm said.
Herne, which reportedly has a 3,100-mile range, is an autonomous vessel – meaning it can think for itself without a human operator.
It took BAE and Cellula just 11 months to take the sub from “whiteboard to water”, according to a statement from BAE.
A team of engineers, based in Portsmouth, trialled the sub in November with a faux intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance mission.
Herne has been dubbed a “game changer in the underwater battlespace” by BAE’s maritime services boss, Scott Jamieson.
“It will give our customers a cost effective autonomous capability that will allow for a wide range of missions,” he continued, adding that it offers an alternative to crewed platforms.
In turn, this could keep more human crews out of the way in dangerous conditions.
The autonomous nature of the vessel also means skilled personnel can be freed up from “arduous” tasks, like keeping watch.
BAE said: “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 has been designed to fit inside a 40ft shipping container.
The defence firm said it will continue to put Herne to the test with further trials.
