Excalibur! UK Royal Navy names 12m uncrewed sub
The Royal Navy on Friday unveiled its first uncrewed submarine, a 12-metre experimental vessel with a two-metre beam displacing 19 tonnes.
Named Excalibur, it represents the culmination of the three-year Project Cetus, and is the largest uncrewed underwater vessel trialled by the navy to date.
Over the next two years, Excalibur will carry out extensive sea trials to help develop a better understanding of the unique challenges that come with operating uncrewed vessels of this size – with the aim of future vessels working alongside crewed platforms.
"The trials and testing will contribute significantly to the Royal Navy’s constant efforts to remain ahead of potential foes beneath the waves, safeguarding key infrastructure, protecting British and allied ships and submarines and gathering intelligence," said the navy.
The crewless craft was built by Plymouth-based MSubs, which specialises in automated submersibles.
“The naming of Excalibur is a significant milestone for the Royal Navy and the upcoming sea trials will allow us to rapidly develop our understanding of operating uncrewed vessels of this size underwater," added Commodore Marcus Rose, Deputy Director Underwater Battlespace Capability.
“The lessons learnt from this exciting programme will build on our experience from existing programmes, such as the mine hunting capability programme, to inform more extensive use of these technologies in a mixed force of crewed and uncrewed systems."
It will serve as the testbed for maritime technology, both exploiting the natural intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance and stealth aspects of the extra-large UUV, alongside its ability to carry bespoke payloads.
As a demonstrator, the vessel will not perform operational duties but will shape future concepts.
Since being delivered to the Royal Navy earlier this year, Excalibur, named after an experimental high-speed submarine trialled by the Royal Navy in the 1950s and 60s, underwent harbour and sea acceptance trials from Devonport Naval Base.
