What Is Excalibur? Undersea Drone Used To Fire US Torpedo in Military First
The launch marks a step in developing autonomous naval technology.
The United Kingdom has successfully test-fired a U.S. torpedo from an unmanned undersea vessel for the first time, marking a significant development in Euro-Atlantic security and NATO's naval capabilities. This move follows comments by the UK's First Sea Lord, General Sir Gwyn Jenkins, who stated that the UK needs more warships and drones to protect the Atlantic due to Russia's advanced submarines and long-range precision weapons.
The UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) revealed that the British-built undersea drone, named XV Excalibur, was used to launch the heavyweight torpedo. This trial, the first of its kind for both the UK and the U.S., demonstrates the technological collaboration between the U.S., UK, and Australia in the AUKUS alliance. The MOD emphasized that the trial took place at a testing range off the north coast of Scotland, though the exact location has not been confirmed.
XV Excalibur, a 12-meter experimental vessel, is the largest uncrewed underwater vehicle ever trialed by the Royal Navy and is classified as an Extra-Large Uncrewed Underwater Vehicle (XLUUV). The successful trial showcases a substantial increase in the UK's lethality and marks an important step towards building a hybrid navy, combining crewed ships with unmanned and autonomous vessels.
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