Royal Navy launches first uncrewed submarine
The Royal Navy has launched its first-ever uncrewed submarine, a 19-tonne underwater vessel named Excalibur.
The 12-meter platform, developed under the three-year Project Cetus, was unveiled on May 15 during a formal ceremony at HMNB Devonport.
Rear Admiral James Parkin, Navy Director Develop, led the event attended by 200 guests, including representatives from AUKUS partner nations and cadets from across the Royal Navy.
According to the Royal Navy, Excalibur will now enter a rigorous two-year sea trial period. The testing will focus on evaluating advanced technologies intended to support intelligence gathering, infrastructure protection, and operational support for both British and allied vessels. Navy officials say the goal is to better integrate uncrewed systems alongside manned platforms in future naval operations.
“The lessons learnt from this exciting programme will build on our experience from existing programmes, such as the Mine Hunting Capability programme,” the Navy said in a release. “Successful delivery of this programme is testament to what can be achieved in collaboration with our industrial partners.”
Categorized as an Extra-Large Uncrewed Underwater Vehicle (XLUUV), Excalibur will operate under the newly formed Fleet Experimentation Squadron, which falls within the Royal Navy’s Disruptive Capabilities and Technologies Office. It will work in tandem with the Navy’s experimental surface ship XV Patrick Blackett.
While Excalibur is not scheduled for operational deployment, it is positioned as a critical testbed for next-generation stealth and payload systems.
Navy officials say the vessel’s Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) functions — paired with autonomous navigation and adaptable sensor packages — will help refine the Royal Navy’s undersea doctrine for coming decades.
