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UK and US Fire Torpedo from Uncrewed Undersea Drone in AUKUS Milestone
By Drooid · · How we work
First Uncrewed Torpedo Test Demonstrates AUKUS Undersea Capability
The United Kingdom and the United States conducted a live-fire test of a heavyweight torpedo launched from a 12-metre (40-ft) uncrewed undersea vessel built in Britain and named Excalibur. The launch took place in UK waters “last week,” marking the first time a torpedo has been fired from an unmanned platform rather than a crewed submarine. The torpedo was jointly developed by the United States and Australia. An operating centre in Australia, more than 16,000 km from the vessel’s home port in Plymouth, remotely controlled the drone, a capability described by the Royal Navy as a “big step forward” for interchangeable uncrewed operations with Australia.
Background and AUKUS Context
The test is part of the broader AUKUS partnership among the United Kingdom, United States and Australia, which seeks to accelerate autonomous naval technologies in response to perceived threats from Russia and Iran. A previous joint drive of Excalibur occurred in 2025 during Exercise Talisman Sabre, establishing the platform’s baseline performance before this torpedo-firing demonstration.
Technical Details and Data
- Platform: 12-metre undersea drone, British-manufactured, designated Excalibur (also referenced as XV Excalibur).
- Payload: Heavyweight torpedo co-developed by the United States and Australia.
- Control: Remote operation from an Australian centre located over 16,000 km from the test site.
Official Statements & Responses
Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced that his trip to the United Nations General Assembly will include the launch of a new AI and autonomy partnership with the United States, aimed at protecting critical national infrastructure from sea lanes to airspace.
Verbatim Quote
“This week I will be making the case for closer international cooperation on AI, a just and lasting peace in Ukraine , and renewed efforts to bring an end to the conflict in the Middle East because what happens abroad impacts each and every one of us at home,” — Burnham. He