British unmanned systems manufacturer MSubs has launched the UK Royal Navy’s future Extra Large Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (XLAUV) at Turnchapel Wharf in Plymouth.
The milestone is part of London’s “Cetus Project,” which seeks to develop a crewless submarine fleet that will enhance the military’s capabilities in modern underwater warfare.
Once delivered, the vessels will be deployed independently to secure the country’s critical infrastructure and monitor sub-sea activities across its territories.
Additionally, the XLAUVs will sail on other missions supporting the navy’s existing crewed submarines, including the Astute-class nuclear-powered submarines and their successors.
MSubs received the contract to build the first Cetus vessel in December 2022, with an investment of 15.4 million pounds ($19.8 million).
The XLAUV Platform
The Royal Navy’s XLUAV system measures 12 meters (39 feet) long and has a diameter of 2.2 meters (7 feet).
It weighs approximately 17 tonnes (37,479 pounds) and has space in its interior structure to fit a standard shipping container.
The submarine can cover a range of about 1,000 miles (1,609 kilometers) in a single mission, has an endurance of up to five days, and incorporates design for additional capacity and power supply if needed.
The UK Ministry of Defence noted in the effort’s announcement in 2022 that the battery-enabled XLAUV “will be able to dive deeper than any vessel in the current submarine fleet” and will also be used to “experiment and build cutting edge technologies and capabilities around, encouraging innovation and developing best practice.”
