{
  "id": 9036684,
  "title": "UK test fires US torpedo from undersea drone for first time",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/uk-test-fires-us-torpedo-from-undersea-drone-for-first-time-9036684",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-21T23:01:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/world/2026/09/22/uk-test-fires-us-torpedo-from-undersea-drone-for-first-time"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "LONDON: For the first time, a British-built underwater drone named Excalibur successfully fired a powerful torpedo jointly developed by the United States and Australia from undersea, according to a statement from the UK government. The live firing took place in UK waters last week as part of the Aukus security alliance with Australia. This marks a significant advancement in submarine technology for Britain, the United States, and Australia, and strengthens Euro-Atlantic security and NATO's undersea advantage, the statement added.\n\nThe torpedo, a heavyweight weapon, was launched from a 12-meter long undersea drone manufactured in Britain. Sidharth Kaushal, a senior research fellow at the RUSI think-tank, described the development as noteworthy, stating that the use of a lethal payload shows that unmanned systems can perform roles beyond surveillance.\n\nThe announcement coincided with UK Prime Minister Andrew Burnham's trip to New York for the United Nations General Assembly, where he is set to meet US President Donald Trump for the first time since Burnham became UK leader in July. Burnham will use the summit to advance global work on artificial intelligence, particularly in protecting critical national infrastructure such as sea lanes and airspace. He will also announce a new AI and autonomy partnership with the US aimed at safeguarding critical national infrastructure worldwide. Burnham emphasized the importance of international cooperation on AI, a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, and renewed efforts to end the conflict in the Middle East, as events abroad impact domestic affairs.",
  "summary": "The live firing took place as part of the Aukus alliance with Australia to modernise autonomous war-fighting systems amid threats from Russia and Iran.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "UK test fires US torpedo from undersea drone for first time",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/uk-test-fires-us-torpedo-from-undersea-drone-for-first-time",
        "published": "2026-09-21T23:01:02.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}