UK trials long-distance Excalibur drone: Flown from halfway around the world
UK Secretary of Defence John Gillie (Photo: Getty Images)
The UK has successfully tested the remote-control system of the extra-large unmanned underwater vehicle (XLUUV) Excalibur during the Talisman Sabre exercises, according to Interesting Engineering.
According to the edition, for the first time, the remote control center was located in Australia and operated a 40-foot underwater drone. At the time of operation, the drone was in British waters, more than 10,000 miles away from its home base at HMNB Devonport in Plymouth.
The test was part of a series of AUKUS Pillar II Maritime Big Play exercises, in which the US, the UK, and Australia are testing the capabilities of joint deployment of autonomous systems at sea.
What is known about Excalibur
Excalibur is a large autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV). It measures 12 meters in length, 2 meters in width, and weighs approximately 21 tons. The drone can operate over distances of up to 1,000 miles. However, it is not intended for combat deployment; rather, it serves as a test platform to refine tactics and technical requirements.
“It has a mission endurance of up to 1,000 miles and can dive deeper than the Royal Navy’s manned submarines,” emphasized Rear Admiral James Parkin.
AUKUS is a defense partnership between the US, the UK, and Australia, established in September 2021. Its primary goal is to strengthen security and enhance deterrence in the Indo-Pacific region amid China’s growing influence.
A key mission of the alliance is to improve interoperability among the armed forces of the three countries and prepare for their effective joint participation in potential future conflicts.
The UK government has allocated additional billions of pounds to deploy strike drones within its armed forces, drawing on lessons from the Ukraine-Russia war.
Additionally, Ukraine and the UK have launched joint production of strike drones, which will eventually be shared between the two countries.
