BAE Adds To Autonomous Capabilities With Acquisition Of Company Focused On UUVs

摘要

BAE Systems, Inc. on Monday said it has acquired a small company that specializes in small unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs), boosting its capabilities in autonomous systems. Terms of the asset purchase of Massachusetts-based Riptide Autonomous Solutions were not disclosed. The company has 17 employees, all of which have been offered employment with BAE. “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,” Terry Crimmins, president of BAE’s Electronics segment, said in a statement. “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.” Riptide’s products include the μUUV, Micro UUV and Micro-Mini UUV, all of which are manportable, that can be used with different sensors for testing and operations. The Riptide name will continue to be used on existing and future UUV products but the company will no longer operate under the Riptide Autonomous Solutions name, a spokesman for BAE Systems, Inc., which is the U.S. subsidiary of Britain’s BAE Systems plc, told Defense Daily.