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UK and US Launch Mk 48 Mod 7 CBASS Torpedo

By Drooid · Sep 22, 2026, 12:09 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

UK-US Launch Torpedo

The United Kingdom and United States launched a jointly developed Mk 48 Mod 7 CBASS torpedo from XV Excalibur in UK waters.
XV Excalibur, a 12-metre, 19-tonne experimental XLUUV built by MSubs, was delivered in January 2026.
An Australian centre remotely operated Excalibur from over 16,000 km away during the test.
The Royal Navy said the launch proves uncrewed platforms can carry weapons, though not yet operational.

Summary

TKMS Wins MoD

TKMS ATLAS UK won the MoD’s Next Generation Countermeasure contract for Royal Navy submarines.
The contract, valued at about £35 million ($47 million), runs from October 2025 to October 2032.
The programme is expected to sustain roughly 80 jobs across the United Kingdom.
Babcock International will provide countermeasure launcher technology and submarine integration expertise for the system.
Development follows a spiral model, allowing staged upgrades during submarines’ service lives.

History

Historical Context

In 2005 Atlas Elektronik unveiled the SeaFox, an expendable mine-disposal vehicle that entered service with eleven NATO navies. Its autonomous, fiber-optic-linked design, low life-cycle cost and launch capability from ships, boats or helicopters exemplified the shift toward uncrewed naval systems, a trend that today underpins strike concepts used by forces such as the Royal Navy.

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UK-US Launch Torpedo

The United Kingdom and United States launched a jointly developed Mk 48 Mod 7 CBASS torpedo from XV Excalibur in UK waters.
XV Excalibur, a 12-metre, 19-tonne experimental XLUUV built by MSubs, was delivered in January 2026.
An Australian centre remotely operated Excalibur from over 16,000 km away during the test.
The Royal Navy said the launch proves uncrewed platforms can carry weapons, though not yet operational.

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