The British Royal Navy achieved an unprecedented feat by controlling, from Australia, an uncrewed submarine navigating submerged in UK waters.
The test was conducted in July during the “Maritime Big Play” series of the Talisman Sabre 2025 military exercise and is part of the AUKUS Pillar II, a technological cooperation initiative between the United Kingdom, Australia, and the United States.
The vehicle used was Excalibur, the first British Extra Large Uncrewed Underwater Vehicle (XLUUV), 12 meters long, unveiled earlier this year after three years of development in the Cetus project. The operation, conducted more than 16,000 kilometers away, was considered a milestone in the interoperability of uncrewed naval systems, allowing equipment to be operated interchangeably between allied countries.
In addition to remote control, the exercise included Japan’s participation to improve underwater acoustic communications.
The 2025 edition of Maritime Big Play emphasized command and control operations over long distances and in contested environments, further aligning the involved navies in using robotic and autonomous technologies.
Source: UK Defence Journal | Photo: X @RoyalNavy | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
During Exercise Talisman Sabre, #AUKUS nations controlled the #RoyalNavy‘s XV Excalibur from Australia while the XLUUV was in UK waters. https://t.co/RbM0IgIQYq pic.twitter.com/hlbt1drckM
— Royal Navy (@RoyalNavy) August 11, 2025
