BAE Systems say it has purchased Riptide Autonomous Solutions, a Massachusetts based provider of unmanned underwater vehicle technology.

In a release, BAE say:

“Specialising in small UUVs, Riptide’s platforms are sophisticated yet simple, efficient, and highly flexible, offering performance discriminators within this domain that include greater depth, range, endurance, and speed.”

“Adding Riptide’s technological capabilities will position us to provide customers unmatched flexibility by offering a family of UUVs and integrated payload solutions capable of supporting a variety of critical missions” said Terry Crimmins, president of BAE Systems Electronic Systems.

“Coupling our extensive expertise in sonar, signal processing, sensor fusion, undersea communications, electronic warfare, and autonomous systems with Riptide’s unique UUV platforms will enable us to affordably address rapidly expanding maritime mission requirements in the global defense, commercial, and research markets.”

The company, Riptide, had previously been expanding its product range and had moved into a new facility. Last year, the company revealed a new micro-UUV that can travel for 1,000 nautical miles without a recharge.

More on this specific platform (pictured above) can be found at Naval Today here.

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George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison
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DaveyB
DaveyB
4 years ago

There has yet to be anyone stating how a Underwater Unmanned Vehicle will transmit/receive data whilst underwater. For a surveillance vessel doing a pre-programmed pattern this is not a problem, where it can come near to the surface, raise an aerial and connect to a satellite dumping all its acquired data or receive updates. However, for a UUV that is designed to search and track, how will it do it. Only really long wavelength radio waves can travel through water and because they are so long their data bandwidth is incredibly small. We’re talking a 30 word sentence taking minutes… Read more »

Watcherzero
Watcherzero
4 years ago
Reply to  DaveyB

Riptide for example has three systems, acoustic modem for command updates (generally about a 1 km range underwater), wifi for data dump to mothership and an iridium satellite phone for help I’m lost type communications.

Glass Half Full
Glass Half Full
4 years ago
Reply to  DaveyB

You’ve pretty much defined the constraints but maybe worth breaking down into transmit and receive as different requirements and considering the scale/complexity of what might be required or could be utilised? A UUV could transmit on a scheduled or ad hoc basis by either coming close to the surface or perhaps more desirably, staying at depth and deploying and retrieving a tethered buoy to minimize surface, air or satellite detection. This doesn’t seem to be particularly challenging? Similarly for data receipt on a scheduled basis. For ad hoc data receipt, the UUV would then only need to receive a long… Read more »

DaveyB
DaveyB
4 years ago

Hi GHF, cheers for the info. It does now make sense on how a UUV could be controlled, but more importantly relay information back to its mothership in real time. I suppose if it uses a directional hydophone, this minimises the chances of detection.
The idea of having a T31 as a mothership equipped with UUVs does appeal, as these could be used for either mine detection, sub-hunting or perhaps acting as a torpedo decoy.

whlgrubber
whlgrubber
4 years ago
Reply to  DaveyB

trailing aerial to satellite.

Jonny
Jonny
4 years ago

Off topic but does anyone know what the plane circling the Surrey area at low altitude was? Was it to do with Trump’s visit?

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
4 years ago
Reply to  Jonny

Depends what type I guess?

Will
Will
4 years ago
Reply to  Jonny

I saw that at Woking station. Looked like a Bombardier Global or Gulfstream G4/5 to me

Cam
Cam
4 years ago

They have lots of American company’s…

Martin
Martin
4 years ago

Hopefully this makes it easier for us to launch out our own UUV program.