UK’s uncrewed experimental sub shows it can fire torpedoes

The Royal Navy's uncrewed submarine, the XV Excalibur, successfully test-fired a torpedo for the first time. This marks the capability of underwater drones to not only perform reconnaissance and surveillance but also to target specific objectives. The XV Excalibur, a 12-meter experimental uncrewed underwater vehicle (UUV), is the Royal Navy's initial large submarine drone as part of Project CETUS.

This test was carried out under the AUKUS program, a security alliance between Australia, the UK, and America. The torpedo fired was a heavyweight, jointly developed by the US and Australia, potentially the Mk 48 torpedo currently used by all US Navy submarines. This marks the first instance either the US or UK has launched a torpedo from an underwater drone, as opposed to a crewed submarine.

The Excalibur autonomously navigated to its launch position and executed a pre-programmed sequence, although it did not handle the target detection or tracking responsibilities, which were provided through external systems. The submarine lacks torpedo tubes and its midships payload bay is too small to hold a large torpedo, suggesting it might have been carried via a cradle attached to the underside.

The Ministry of Defence was asked for additional information regarding the trials using the British Spearfish torpedo, but a response was not immediately available. The XV Excalibur is currently an experimental vehicle, but it is anticipated to guide future UUV requirements for the Royal Navy, aiding in North Atlantic patrolling and protection against potential Russian sabotage of undersea cables and infrastructure if hostilities occur.