UK hunts for extra large autonomous underwater vehicle
Concept image of the MSubs developed extra-large uncrewed underwater vehicle (XLUUV). (Photo: MSubs)
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
-
UK MoD’s confirmation of MBDA missile for Type 26 points to more European collaboration
The Type 26 will also be fitted with the Sea Ceptor vertically launched air defence system that can fire CAMM missiles and a 24-cell Mk 41 vertical launch system that can fire the Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles, anti-submarine rockets and long-range anti-ship missiles.
-
Second Royal Canadian Navy Joint Support Ship is on schedule to be launched mid-2026
While the first Joint Support Ship is currently in the final stages of outfitting, the second one is on schedule for launching next year.
-
Is South Korea finally being taken seriously for Western submarine programmes?
South Korean shipbuilders are beginning to make their mark beyond Asia, competing for major North American and European submarine programmes and becoming serious contenders on a global scale.
-
AUKUS Pillar 2 could narrow focus to “four key areas” says UK official
Few concrete ideas have emerged so far on which “advanced capabilities” will be brought forward under Pillar 2 of the AUKUS partnership, but the Pentagon’s review of the programme could bring more clarity.
-
Sweden’s decision on four new warships inches closer as it eyes UK, France and Spain
Sweden decided last year that it wanted a significantly larger warship for its Luleå Class programme than originally planned, with three likely contenders that could potentially deliver within the country’s tight schedule.