Royal Navy Excalibur UUV launches US Mk 48 heavyweight torpedo in test

The Royal Navy demonstrated launching a US Mk 48 Mod 7 heavyweight torpedo from its Excalibur uncrewed underwater vehicle using an external cradle, validating mechanical/electrical/software integration of a US kinetic payload on an allied autonomous platform. This is novel as it advances cross-allied weapon/payload interchangeability for UUVs under AUKUS Pillar 2 and points toward armed UUV operational concepts beyond traditional torpedo-tube submarines.