US and UK test-fire torpedo from uncrewed submarine in AUKUS first

The United States and the United Kingdom have test-fired a heavyweight torpedo from an uncrewed undersea vessel for the first time, in a trial carried out in UK waters last week. Britain said the launch was part of the AUKUS security partnership with Australia and marked a major step in autonomous submarine technology. The test involved the British-built XV Excalibur, a 12-metre-long undersea drone designed to demonstrate the capabilities of autonomous vessels.

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According to the British government, the torpedo used in the trial was jointly developed by the United States and Australia. The launch was announced on Monday local time, and officials described it as a significant breakthrough for Euro-Atlantic security and NATO's undersea advantage. The Royal Navy said an operating centre in Australia remotely controlled the vessel, which it described as a major step forward in operating uncrewed systems interchangeably with Australia.

The trial adds a weapons payload to a platform that had previously been used to demonstrate autonomous undersea operations. Britain and Australia carried out a joint test-drive of Excalibur in 2025 during Exercise Talisman Sabre, according to the information released with the announcement. A senior research fellow at the RUSI think-tank said the use of a lethal payload was noteworthy because it showed uncrewed systems can be used for more than surveillance.

The test comes as Western countries accelerate efforts to modernise military capabilities with autonomous systems, amid concerns about threats from Russia and Iran. AUKUS, the defence partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States, has become a central framework for cooperation on advanced undersea technology. The latest trial is being presented as part of that wider effort to develop cutting-edge weapons systems and sensors for underwater drones.

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The announcement also underlines the growing role of remote operations in future naval warfare. By demonstrating that a drone launched in British waters can be controlled from Australia, the three countries are signalling a push toward more integrated and interchangeable undersea systems. That has implications for how allied navies may share technology, training and operational control in the years ahead.

What remains unclear is how quickly the technology could move from testing to operational use, and whether further trials will follow in the same configuration. The statement did not provide details on the range, depth or exact conditions of the launch. Further announcements from the three AUKUS partners will be watched for signs of how this capability fits into their broader submarine and autonomous weapons programmes.

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