US, UK Navy launch heavyweight torpedo from unmanned vessel in what the military calls 'a historic first for allied undersea warfare'
The US and UK navies launched an American Mk 48 torpedo from a British Excalibur during Project Broadsword testing in Scotland.
The British XV Excalibur robotic submarine successfully launched an American Mk 48 heavyweight torpedo during a historic first for allied undersea warfare, according to the US and UK militaries. The launch took place on September 13, 2026, at the British Underwater Test & Evaluation Centre as part of Project Broadsword. The 3,700-pound torpedo was externally mounted beneath the XV Excalibur's hull, demonstrating the potential for weapon integration between American and British autonomous underwater vessels.
The test, approved in February 2026 as part of AUKUS Pillar II, focused on interoperability between advanced military capabilities, including artificial intelligence and unmanned systems. Project Broadsword involved multiple partners, including the Department of the Navy Rapid Capabilities Office, Royal Navy, Defense Innovation Unit, and Naval Undersea Warfare Center.
Adm. Daryl Caudle, Chief of Naval Operations, emphasized that the successful test validates the shared vision for interchangeability among allied platforms, increasing the flexibility and combat power of combined forces. Project CUTLASS, an upcoming phase of the project, will build upon these findings by exploring further integration and operational testing with Anduril's Dive-XL platform.
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