BAE Systems has completed trials of a “first of its kind” autonomous boat that will allow navies to go “beyond the limits of human endurance”.

The unmanned vessel, known as the Pacific 950 Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB), can travel further, for longer, and to more inhospitable environments, the aerospace and defence company said.

BAE Systems said in a statement: “The autonomous Pacific 950 Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) demonstrator has been used to develop and prove innovative technologies, which have the potential to make naval missions faster, easier and safer, taking the relationship between human and machine to new territories.”

The P950 is equipped with automated navigational decision-making technologies, which could free up operators to focus on “mission-critical information” from afar. Capable of reaching speeds of up to 45 knots, the vessel can operate for up to 10 days at ‘patrol speed’ or 300 nautical miles in ‘pursuit mode’.

Pre-programmed with intelligent behaviours, the P950 can also position itself appropriately in relation to a potential threat. The weapons system remains under the control of a human operator, though. This combination of autonomous behaviour and human control means that there will always be a highly-trained operator at hand to make the “final decision on engagement and targeting”.

Mike Woods, chief technologist for BAE Systems’ Maritime Services business, commented: “This technology represents a huge step forward in the interaction between human and machine, combining sophisticated autonomous technology with human capabilities to overcome many of the challenges faced in difficult conditions at sea.

“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.”

In the future, autonomous vessels such as the P950 could be deployed as part of missions including anti-piracy operations, border control, persistent intelligence gathering, maritime security and force protection, according to BAE Systems.

Further work will be carried out by BAE Systems to prove that the technology can be integrated with existing naval combat management systems. The RIB will also undertake additional trials, which include participation in a NATO exercise in Portugal later this year.

Woods added: “For the past four years, we have been working in collaboration to develop this ‘first of its kind’ technology. We are proud to have matured autonomous maritime technology significantly, positioning the UK as a forward-thinker in this unique space and providing a crucial advantage where it counts.”

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