Armed BAE Systems boat could patrol ocean for up to 10 days with no crew

An armed unmanned boat capable of patrolling for up to 10 days or pursuing for almost seven hours could make naval missions faster, easier and safer, BAE Systems has claimed.

Announcing the successful completion of trials, the Royal Navy supplier said its retrofitted Pacific 950 rigid inflatable boat (Rib) was the “first of its kind” thanks to its varied capabilities.

The company worked with industry experts from L3Harris and MSI Defence Systems to equip the Rib with automated navigational decision-making technologies. It reportedly has “pre-programmed intelligent behaviours to position itself appropriately in relation to a potential threat”.

The boat has a mounted MSI Defence Systems MWS 12.7mm machine gun, capable of finding, tracking and shooting targets. The weapons system nonetheless “remains firmly under a human operator’s control,” according to BAE Systems, ensuring a human being makes the final decision on engaging and targeting enemies even if the vessel is operating and navigating autonomously.

The vessel can operate for up to 10 days at ‘patrol speed’ or travel 556km in ‘pursuit mode’, reaching speeds of up to 83.34km/h. It could be useful for a range of applications, including anti-piracy operations, border control, intelligence gathering, maritime security and protection. Using it could keep sailors out of harm.

“The boat keeps sailors out of harm’s way whilst allowing them to respond to the increasingly varied, often unpredictable scenarios they face every day, and aids faster decision making in complex and ambiguous situations,” said BAE Systems Maritime Services chief technologist Mike Woods.

The technology was designed to be retrofitted to existing Ribs, such as the Navy’s BAE Systems Pacific 24. It will undergo further trials before potential use, including a Nato exercise in Portugal.