BAE Systems Inc. has purchased the key assets of Riptide Autonomous Solutions, which develops affordable UUV technology and platforms.

With a specialty in small UUVs, Riptide’s UUVs are described as “sophisticated yet simple, efficient, and highly flexible,” and offer “performance discriminators within this domain” that include greater depth, range, endurance, and speed.

“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,” says Terry Crimmins, president of BAE Systems Electronic Systems.

“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.”

According to BAE Systems, Riptide employees will join the BAE Systems Electronic Systems sector, with many becoming part of the FAST Labs organization, where BAE Systems’ scientists and engineers develop capabilities to address some of the toughest challenges across several domains, including defense, aerospace and security.

“The FAST Labs team looks forward to maturing Riptide’s platform technology, demonstrating new solutions, and scaling manufacturing production,” BAE Systems says.

“This is consistent with our strategy to acquire and incubate small business innovations that can yield disruptive technology breakthroughs for BAE Systems programs of record.”

Headquartered in Nashua, New Hampshire, BAE Systems says that it expects to maintain the Riptide facilities in Plymouth, Massachusetts, which will expand its footprint in the New England area.