The UK has fired a US torpedo from a Plymouth-made undersea drone in a major boost for Euro-Atlantic and maritime security, as both countries join forces on rapidly developing technology to keep people safe.
The UK and US have conducted a live firing of Mk 48 heavyweight torpedo from an uncrewed underwater vehicle as part of the AUKUS program, marking the first time either country has launched a torpedo from an uncrewed undersea vessel.
The milestone, achieved under Project Broadsword and Trial Iron, marks a major operational achievement for AUKUS Pillar 2. The event successfully validated the mechanical, electrical, and software integration of a US kinetic payload onto an allied autonomous vessel, according to the officials.
The firing took place in UK waters last week from Excalibur, an uncrewed underwater vehicle made in Plymouth. The heavyweight torpedo was jointly developed by the US and Australia and is designed to engage surface ships and deep-diving submarines, according to the UK government.
Officially classified as an extra-large uncrewed underwater vessel, or XLUUV, Excalibur got its name from the Arthurian legend and an experimental high-speed submarine tested by the Royal Navy in the 1950s and ’60s. The 12-meter experimental vessel, displacing 19 tonnes and measuring two meters across, is the culmination of the three-year-long Project Cetus. The crewless craft, delivered in January this year, was built by MSubs, which specializes in automated submersibles.
The test was conducted under AUKUS, the security partnership between Australia, the UK, and the US that includes cooperation on nuclear-powered submarines and advanced undersea capabilities.
The UK government said the test represents an advance in the development of autonomous undersea technology for the three AUKUS partners and contributes to their undersea warfare capabilities.
“This successful test marks a historic first for allied undersea warfare,” added Adm. Daryl Caudle, Chief of Naval Operations.
“Proving that we can seamlessly launch a U.S. heavyweight torpedo from a Royal Navy autonomous underwater vehicle validates our shared vision for true interchangeability. By integrating weapons, payloads, and mission architectures across allied platforms, we are increasing the flexibility, scale, and combat power of our combined forces and ensuring they are ready to meet the strategic demands of tomorrow.”
Following the deployment of the Mk 48 from the XV EXCALIBUR, the Department of the Navy and its international partners will continue aggressive follow-on acceleration with Project CUTLASS. Utilizing the Anduril Dive-XL platform, the next phase will tackle advanced payload integration data, command and control architectures, and tactical employment scenarios to further mature uncrewed undersea capabilities.
The trial comes as the UK and US are also launching work on a new AI and autonomy partnership aimed at developing capabilities for protecting critical national infrastructure and detecting potential threats.
Under the partnership, the UK Ministry of Defense Rapid AI Delivery Taskforce and the US Department of War Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office will cooperate on artificial intelligence and autonomous systems.
The initiative is intended to accelerate the development and delivery of interoperable AI-enabled capabilities for the two countries.
The latest torpedo trial builds on ongoing AUKUS cooperation on autonomous undersea systems and follows previous testing of Excalibur as a platform for developing and demonstrating uncrewed underwater capabilities.