BAE Systems Acquires Riptide

BAE Systems, Inc. has announced the purchase of the key assets of Riptide Autonomous Solutions, a Plymouth, Mass.-based provider of unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) technology and solutions.

Specializing in small UUVs, Riptide’s platforms are deigned to be sophisticated yet simple, efficient and highly flexible, offering 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 offeringa family of UUVs and integrated payload solutionscapable of supporting a variety of critical missions,” said 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.”

Jeff Smith, founder and president of Riptide Autonomous Solutions, stated, “Everyone at Riptide is excited to be joining BAE Systems, given our shared focus and strategic vision for the undersea market.”

Riptide employees will join the BAE Systems Electronic Systems sector, many as part of the FAST Labs organization, where scientists and engineers innovate capabilities to address some of the toughest challenges in the defense, aerospace and security domains. The FAST Labs team will work to mature Riptide’s platform technology, demonstrating new solutions, and scaling manufacturing production.

BAE Systems said it expects to maintain the Riptide facilities in Plymouth, Mass.