The UK and US have achieved a historic milestone by successfully firing a US torpedo from a British undersea drone. The firing, which took place in UK waters last week, involved a 12-metre-long Plymouth-made drone named Excalibur launching a heavyweight torpedo, jointly developed by the US and Australia.
This event marks the first time either country has launched a torpedo from an uncrewed undersea vessel, rather than a crewed submarine. It is considered a major advance for the future of submarine technology for the UK, US, and Australia, and a significant breakthrough for Euro-Atlantic security and NATO's undersea advantage.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham is currently in New York to attend the UN General Assembly, where he is expected to discuss major global challenges such as artificial intelligence (AI), the conflict in Ukraine, and security in the Middle East. He is also expected to announce a new AI and Autonomy partnership between the UK and US, aimed at protecting critical national infrastructure and deterring adversaries using AI technology.
During his visit, the Prime Minister will confirm that the UK will host the G20 Leaders' Summit in Manchester next November. This summit will bring together major global economic players to address shared goals and global challenges.