Project conducted under military partnership between the U.S., the U.K., and Australia
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“This successful test marks a historic first for allied undersea warfare,” said Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle. “Proving that we can seamlessly launch a U.S. heavyweight torpedo from a Royal Navy autonomous underwater vehicle validates our shared vision for true interchangeability. By integrating weapons, payloads, and mission architectures across allied platforms, we are increasing the flexibility, scale, and combat power of our combined forces and ensuring they are ready to meet the strategic demands of tomorrow.”
The launch was conducted under AUKUS Pillar 2, a military partnership between the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia aimed at developing and accelerating the deployment of cutting-edge, advanced defense technologies, such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and autonomous underwater systems, to maintain a strategic technological edge in the Indo-Pacific region. According to the U.S. Navy, the trial validated the mechanical, electrical, and software integration of an American kinetic payload onto a British autonomous platform, proving weapon interchangeability between allied forces.
The project — designated Project Broadsword — received approval in February 2026 from the Department of the Navy Rapid Capabilities Office (DONRCO) and was executed in collaboration with OPNAV N97, the Royal Navy, the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Keyport, and several industry partners. From approval to trials took just seven months. In a similar project, the U.S. Navy launched missiles from its first drone sailboat in August.
The Mk 48 is a heavyweight anti-submarine and anti-surface torpedo used by the U.S. Navy and several allied submarine forces. Typically launched from fully manned submarines with crews of 100 to 140 actively involved sailors, the 3,700-pound (1,680 kg) weapon is designed to sink deep-diving submarines and high-performance surface ships. Project Broadsword marks the first time the torpedo has been successfully launched from an uncrewed, autonomous robotic submarine.
US Navy launches missiles from its first drone sailboat
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Reference reading
- https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/SPONSORED_LINK_URL
- https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/u-s-and-uk-navies-successfully-launch-3-700-pound-submarine-sinking-torpedo-from-robotic-drone-submarine-in-historic-first-project-broadsword-proves-weapon-interchangeability-in-just-seven-months#main
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