UK hunts for extra large autonomous underwater vehicle
Concept image of the MSubs developed extra-large uncrewed underwater vehicle (XLUUV). (Photo: MSubs)
The UK RN is increasingly looking to fill roles across its fleet with autonomous or uncrewed capabilities.
The UK's Submarine Delivery Agency Autonomy Unit has issued a tender worth up to £21.5 million for the procurement and trialling of an 8-12m Extra-Large Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (XL-AUV), dubbed Project CETUS.
The resultant XL-AUV will be used to help the RN de-risk the full procurement of future UUVs.
The RN already owns an MSubs extra-large uncrewed underwater vehicle (XLUUV) which is currently being used to test different payloads through the UK Defence and Security Accelerator's (DASA's) 'Uncrewed Underwater Vehicle Testbed – Opportunity to Integrate' competition.
The Project CETUS work follows on from XLUUV experimentation and will be the service's
Already have an account? Log in
Want to keep reading this article?
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Royal Canadian Navy will start operating class 2 UAVs in 2028]()
Royal Canadian Navy will start operating class 2 UAVs in 2028
Acquired under Canada’s Department of National Defence ISTAR UAS project, the drones will be deployed from the Halifax-class frigates.
-
![Newest US Coast Guard cutters go after Chinese vessels sailing in the Arctic]()
Newest US Coast Guard cutters go after Chinese vessels sailing in the Arctic
Cutters Earl Cunningham and Storis have been monitoring five Beijing research vessels navigating in the North Pole.
-
![US Navy selects 25 companies for up to $1.9 billion nuclear submarine contract]()
US Navy selects 25 companies for up to $1.9 billion nuclear submarine contract
The multi-award contract will support the scheduled repair and maintenance of nuclear-powered attack submarines at the US Navy’s primary public shipyards.
