US torpedo test-fired from UK sea drone for first time as part of AUKUS
The US and UK test-fired a heavyweight torpedo from an unmanned submarine for the first time.
The US and Australia jointly developed the torpedo, and the UK launched it as part of the AUKUS agreement.
Western countries are rushing to modernise their war-fighting capabilities with autonomous systems, in the face of threats from Russia and Iran.
Britain and the United States have for the first time test-fired a torpedo from an uncrewed undersea vessel rather than a crewed submarine, the UK government says.
The British government said in a statement on Monday, local time, the live firing took place in UK waters last week as part of the AUKUS alliance with Australia.
It said the test marked "a major advance in the future of submarine technology" for the three countries and "delivers a significant breakthrough for Euro-Atlantic security and NATO's undersea advantage".
Western countries are rushing to modernise their war-fighting capabilities with autonomous systems, in the face of threats from Russia and Iran.
The heavyweight torpedo — jointly developed by the US and Australia — was launched from a 12-metre-long undersea drone manufactured in Britain and named XV Excalibur.
The UK and Australia undertook a joint test-drive of Excalibur in 2025 as part of Exercise Talisman Sabre.
An operating centre in Australia, more than 16,000 kilometres from Excalibur's home in Plymouth, took remote control of the vessel, in what the British Royal Navy described as "a big step forward in our ability to operate uncrewed systems interchangeably with Australia".
Sidharth Kaushal, a senior research fellow at the RUSI think-tank, called the recent torpedo test-fire "noteworthy".
"The employment of a lethal payload illustrates that uncrewed systems can play roles which extend beyond surveillance," he told news agency AFP.
The announcement came as UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham headed to New York for the United Nations General Assembly.
Mr Burnham is due to meet US President Donald Trump for the first time at the summit since becoming UK leader in July.
5News aggregated this summary from the outlet’s public feed. The full article, with all the context, is on www.abc.net.au — the content belongs to ABC News Australia - World.
