BAE Systems is highlighting two new products at DSA, being held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The first, presented though BAE’s subsidiary Malloy Aeronautics, is the T-650 Heavy Lift Electric UAS Concept Vehicle, an all-electric powered UAS, designed to carry a payload of up to 660 pounds (300 kilogrammes) a maximum of 16 nautical miles (around 30 kilometres). It was shown with a dummy StingRay torpedo mounted along the centreline of the UAS.
Paul Roberts, business development manager, at BAE System’s FalconWorks, said its mission profiles could include logistical transportation (including naval cross-decking), armed attack including anti-submarine warfare, battlefield casualty evacuation (CASEVAC – already of interest to special force operators), search and rescue, as well as ISR missions.
Development tests are being conducted on the existing T-600 UAS, with user capability trials having already taken place during a NATO exercise in Portugal.
Early in 2022, it was reported in the media that up to 30 of the smaller Malloy T-150 quadrotos had been acquired by the British government to send to Ukraine as part of a package of defence. The T-150s were intend to resupply troops operating in forward positions. It is not known whether any of the larger T-600s have since been send.
Nautomate
On Wednesday, BAE Systems signed an agreement with United Engineering Systems (UES), part of the MB Group based in the Sultanate of Oman, which will see BAE’s Nautomate uncrewed software-controlled system integrated into the UES Aggressor fast interceptor vessel. Through this agreement, these interceptor vessels will now also be built in Malaysia at the Melaka shipyards. Customers will be offered the Nautomate as an upgrade to existing vessels or built-in from construction. Nautomate is also suitable for other small/medium platforms operating as fast attack/patrol craft usually based in the littoral, due to its open systems scaleable architecture. Such uncrewed vessels using Nautomat will be capable of speeds up to 55knots (usually beyond crewed endurance) with a maximum range up to 300nm.
Mike Burke said that Nautomate had already been demonstrated by customers including the UK’s Royal Navy as part of its NavyX autonomy and lethality accelerator programme.
by Andrew Drwiega
