BAE Systems
About
About BAE Systems
BAE Systems develops uncrewed vehicles and autonomy across air, land, surface and underwater missions, alongside the sensors, electronic warfare and command networks that connect them. The Herne extra-large autonomous underwater vehicle uses the Nautomate control system for military missions in congested or contested waters; Nautomate can also be designed into new vessels or retrofitted to existing surface and subsurface platforms.
Other programmes include the T-150 uncrewed air system, autonomous combat-vehicle trials and PHASA-35, a solar-electric high-altitude aircraft that completed stratospheric flight trials above 66,000 feet. BAE designs these platforms to share intelligence through digital networks and remain under appropriate human command. Its role spans vehicle manufacture, autonomy software, payload and mission-system integration, trials, certification, field support and long-term upgrades for government customers.
Products
- ATLAS CCV
- Herne XLAUV
Herne
- T-650 Heavy-Lift UAS
T-Series
- Uncrewed Pacific 950
Pacific
Supply
Supply chain relationships
- Advanced Navigation
Inbound - Navigation - Advanced Navigation was selected to supply Motus inertial navigation systems for BAE Systems CV90 upgrades
Source - Rolls-Royce
Inbound - robotic motion components - Rolls-Royce was selected to provide the integrated twin-engine power system for BAE Mantis UAS
Source - Saft
Inbound - Power - Saft supplies 320 V lithium-ion battery systems for BAE Systems' Talisman M autonomous underwater vehicle
Source - RENK
Inbound - Motion - RENK integrates its HMPT drive-by-wire transmission upgrade into BAE Systems' autonomous AMPV capability kit
Source - GKN Aerospace
Inbound - Manufacturing - GKN Aerospace manufactured flight-ready wings, fins and control surfaces and integrated them into BAE Systems’ Brontanax prototype
Source - Curtiss-Wright
Inbound - Compute & Control - Curtiss-Wright won a BAE contract for image processors used in ARGUS UAV surveillance systems
Source - Saab Seaeye
Inbound - Motion - Four Saab Seaeye SMS ducted-fan thrusters propel BAE Systems' Talisman autonomous underwater vehicle
Source - Saab
Inbound - actuation and motion control - Four Seaeye SMS ducted-fan thrusters powered BAE Systems' Talisman M autonomous underwater vehicle
Source - Eve Air Mobility
Outbound - Energy Storage - BAE Systems supplies the energy-storage system for the Eve eVTOL
Source
Financials
- BA.L - LSE - GBP
Team
- Charles Woodburn - Group Chief Executive Officer - His role sets the group strategy behind BAE's autonomous systems, defense electronics and uncrewed-platform work.
- Tom Arseneault - President and Chief Executive Officer, BAE Systems, Inc. - The U.S. business is central to BAE's defense robotics, autonomy and mission-systems exposure.
Timeline
Events
- 2026-10-12 - Demonstration - BAE Systems unveils MDACS and HPM counter-drone demonstrators
MDACS uses Hypervelocity Projectiles for air defence and Scorpio-XR guided rounds for fixed and moving ground targets. HPM provides the directed-energy layer; BAE says its architecture uses more than 99% commercial off-the-shelf components. The systems target critical installations and manoeuvring forces facing massed drone attacks.
Source - 2026-10-01 - Demonstration - BAE Systems completes integrated BATS counter-drone trials in Scotland
A unified command-and-control architecture fused multiple sensors into a common operational picture. Electronic-warfare and integrated gun responses retained operator confirmation and human engagement oversight. Further sensing and countermeasure development is progressing toward operational deployment.
Source - 2026-10-01 - Market Signal - Reuters reports BAE exploring possible Robin Radar bid
The report cites anonymous sources and describes preliminary deliberations. No signed transaction or completed acquisition is confirmed. The indicative sale-process value is not a confirmed valuation or funding round.
Source - 2026-07-29 - Production Milestone - GKN Aerospace delivers flight-ready Brontanax aerostructures to BAE Systems
GKN Aerospace engineered and manufactured the Brontanax wings, fins and control surfaces and completed their integration into the flight-ready prototype. The composite structures were produced at GKN Aerospace’s Cowes design and assembly facility on the Isle of Wight. The delivery identifies GKN Aerospace as an aerostructures supplier to BAE Systems’ Brontanax autonomous-aircraft programme.
Source - 2026-07-10 - Contract Award - Australia awards A$6.2M across three AUKUS undersea-autonomy contracts
The A$6.2 million figure is the aggregate value across three contracts and is not allocated by supplier. The recipients are BAE Systems Australia, L3Harris Integrated Mission Systems Australia and Mission Systems. The work targets communications and command technologies for autonomous underwater vehicle control.
Source - 2026-05-18 - Demonstration - BAE Systems GXP and Vantor integrate precision targeting for contested environments
In modern conflict zones, the proliferation of inexpensive unmanned aerial systems (UAS) with equally low-quality sensors, in addition to widespread GPS spoofing and jamming, have rendered traditional drone video collection unreliable. Significant metadata drift in tactical video feeds leads to “targeting paralysis” : high-quality imagery is available, but the underlying geographic coordinates are too inaccurate for precision activities.
Source - 2026-05-12 - Capability - RENK America adds drive-by-wire capability for BAE Systems AMPV autonomy integration
The plug-and-play drive-by-wire upgrade retains the current transmission’s space envelope. The work supports BAE Systems’ rapid capability kit initiative for the US Army vehicle fleet. RENK identified Bradley, M109 Paladin and M270 as other HMPT-equipped platforms that could use the upgrade.
Source - 2026-05-12 - Partnership - Thales and BAE Systems collaborate on ISR mast for Herne XLAUV
Thales and BAE Systems are collaborating to integrate a Thales ISR mast with the Herne XLAUV platform. The mast is intended to bring advanced intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance sensing to autonomous subsea operations. The work gives Thales a direct sensor-payload role in an extra-large autonomous underwater vehicle programme.
Source - 2026-05-12 - Partnership - BAE Systems and Thales plan ISR mast integration for Herne XLAUV
BAE Systems said it intends to integrate Thales advanced ISR mast technology into the 2027 Herne XLAUV demonstration programme. Herne is positioned as a military-assured extra-large autonomous underwater vehicle for extended subsea missions. The collaboration adds a sensor and mission-payload layer to BAE Systems autonomous underwater systems roadmap.
Source - 2025-09-09 - Market Signal - BAE Systems aims to bring Herne autonomous submarine to market by 2026
BAE Systems said it aimed to bring its Herne autonomous submarine to market by 2026. The company said Herne had been successfully tested in 2024 and was being developed with Cellula Robotics. BAE described expected military missions including covert surveillance, anti-submarine support, and subsea infrastructure protection.
Source - 2025-09-09 - Partnership - BAE Systems and Cellula Robotics sign 10-year Herne autonomous submarine agreement
BAE Systems and Cellula Robotics signed a 10-year exclusive agreement to continue work on Herne. The companies said they expected to deliver a market-ready autonomous military submarine by the end of 2026. The agreement extends BAE's undersea autonomy effort with a specialist autonomous underwater vehicle partner.
Source - 2024-11-25 - Demonstration - BAE Systems demonstrates autonomous extra-large submarine Herne off the UK coast
BAE Systems said British engineers successfully demonstrated Herne, an autonomous extra-large submarine developed for military use. The demonstration took place off the south coast of England. Herne is designed for military underwater missions including ISR, anti-submarine operations, and protection of subsea infrastructure.
Source - 2023-06-18 - Partnership - Eve names first three production eVTOL suppliers
Nidec Aerospace will provide the electric propulsion system. BAE Systems will provide the energy-storage system. DUC Hélices will provide lift rotors and the cruise propeller.
Source - 2022-10-20 - Product Launch - BAE Systems launches Herne XLAUV concept demonstrator at Euronaval
BAE Systems launched its Herne extra-large autonomous underwater vehicle concept demonstrator at Euronaval 2022. The concept focused on military autonomous underwater capability for navies and undersea operations. The event marked an early public milestone for BAE's autonomous submarine program before later sea trials and partner work.
Source - 2022-10-10 - Contract Award - BAE Systems selects Motus for Swedish CV90 upgrades
The award covered the Motus inertial-navigation solution. Advanced Navigation described it as the third major phase of the programme. The combined value of the three phases exceeded USD 4.2 million.
Source - 2019-07-24 - Deployment - BAE completes autonomous Pacific 950 trials
The vessel demonstrated up to 45-knot operation. The stated envelope reached ten days at patrol speed or 300 nautical miles in pursuit mode. Weapon engagement remained under a human operator’s control.
Source - 2011-09-07 - Contract Award - Curtiss-Wright wins BAE ARGUS image-processor contract
The supplied hardware comprises rugged processor boards and an airflow chassis manufactured at Curtiss-Wright facilities in Ottawa and San Diego. Deliveries were scheduled from the third quarter through the end of 2011. Curtiss-Wright anticipated about $2.5 million in 2011 orders and estimated $27.5 million over both programmes' lifetimes.
Source - 2008-07-15 - Partnership - Rolls-Royce selected to power BAE Systems Mantis UAS
The Integrated Power System combines and controls propulsion and electrical-power subsystems for the unmanned aircraft. Mantis was an Advanced Concept Technology Demonstrator intended to inform future UK unmanned-aircraft capability. The programme gave Rolls-Royce an entry into the medium-altitude, long-endurance UAV sector.
Source
Relations
Relationships
- Thales
Planned Herne Isr Integration - Thales and BAE Systems intend to integrate a Thales ISR mast with Herne for a 2027 demonstration.
- Skyryse
Air Autonomy Exploration Mou - BAE Systems Australia and Skyryse signed an MoU to explore autonomous rotary- and fixed-wing aircraft opportunities.
- Cellula Robotics
Autonomous Submarine Collaboration - BAE Systems and Cellula Robotics sign 10-year Herne autonomous submarine agreement
- Certo Aerospace
Partner - Certo Aerospace and BAE Systems work through FalconWorks on military integration of the CAPSTONE heavy-lift UAS.
Commercial
- Australia awards A$6.2M across three AUKUS undersea-autonomy contracts
2026-07-10 · Order / contract · Australia’s Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator awarded an aggregate A$6.2 million across BAE Systems Australia, L3Harris Integrated Mission Systems Australia and Mission Systems to develop communications and command technologies for controlling autonomous underwater vehicles under an AUKUS Pillar II innovation challenge.
Source - BAE Systems selects Motus for Swedish CV90 upgrades
2022-10-10 · Order / contract · BAE Systems selected Advanced Navigation inertial systems for a Swedish CV90 tracked-vehicle upgrade programme.
Source - Curtiss-Wright wins BAE ARGUS image-processor contract
2011-09-07 · Order / contract · BAE Systems awarded Curtiss-Wright a contract for rugged image-processing subsystems for the ARGUS-IS and ARGUS-IR airborne surveillance programmes.
Source