UK's XV Excalibur drone submarine fires a torpedo for the first time

Britain's 12-metre experimental uncrewed underwater vehicle XV Excalibur has test-fired a heavyweight torpedo, the first such launch from an underwater drone by either the US or UK. The trial was part of the AUKUS programme; the vessel navigated autonomously but received target data externally.

• XV Excalibur is a 12-metre UUV built under Project CETUS
• It launched a US-Australian heavyweight torpedo, likely a Mk 48
• The drone navigated to the launch point autonomously but did not track the target
• MSubs won a £6.7m contract for the next phase of Royal Navy trials