German Navy Completes Autonomous Submarine Trials

BlueWhale, the autonomous submarine jointly developed by IAI and Atlas Elektronik, has been put through its paces in the Baltic Sea in a series of exercises carried out by the German Navy.

As per a recent company press statement, the capabilities of the Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) were being trialled by Deutsche Marine, the naval arm of the Bundeswehr,  in conjunction with NATO representatives and teams from IAI and underwater acoustics specialists Atlas Elektronik, a subsidiary of Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems.

The vessel, just under 11 metres long and weighing about 5.5 tons, has been developed for Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) missions both in open seas and in harder-to-navigate shallow and littoral waters. The battery-powered sub can stay submerged between 10 and 30 days, mission-dependent, and typically cruises at about 3 knots, with a maximum speed of 7 knots. It is rated to a depth of 300 metres.

Its sensor options include towed array sonar (TAS), synthetic aperture sonar (SAS), and active and passive flank array sonar (FAS). It also carries magnetic sensors to help it detect and identify suspected mines.

Launched in the middle of 2023, the AUV has been designed with a range of tasks in mind including Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaisance (ISR) missions, Electronic Warfare (EW) support measures, and Mine Countermeasures (MCM).

The recent tests carried out in the Baltic were designed to assess BlueWhale's ability to gather data and acquire targets both while submerged and on the surface; the AUV may eventually form part of Deutsche Marine's future plans under its 2035-and-beyond strategy document.

The IAI statement noted: "The trials demonstrated the technological effectiveness of integrating unmanned vessels in the military response to future threats. Just as unmanned vehicles have changed aerial warfare, new submarine technology is poised to change warfare at sea.

"After the agreement to supply the Arrow missile defense system, we are now pleased to further deepen military cooperation between Israel and Germany, enhancing the defense capabilities of both countries."

• You can read further details on the IAI website