UK-based subsea craft manufacturer MSubs recently floated out a new prototype extra-large unmanned undersea vehicle (XLUUV).
The unmanned submersible Cetus is being developed as part of a Royal Navy project. It has a length of 12 metres and a displacement of 17 tonnes.
Propulsion will be by electric motor linked to battery packs mounted on the outside of the hull. The propulsion can deliver a range of 1,000 nautical miles and allow the XLUUV to dive deeper than even some of the submarines in the current Royal Navy fleet.
A payload bay is fitted at the centre of the craft. Situated between the fore and aft pressure vessels, this bay can be fitted to carry mines, small UUVs, and sensors.
An optional additional payload bay can be inserted, increasing the carrying capacity of the XLUUV and allowing the fitting of extra battery packs to further increase its range.
Cetus is scheduled to begin undergoing sea trials and evaluation in April 2025.