UK Launches Torpedo with Unmanned Underwater Vehicle for the First Time

The British government announced on the 21st local time that the UK has conducted its first test launch of a torpedo using an unmanned underwater vehicle.

It is reported that the test launch was carried out by the British-made "Swordfish" unmanned underwater vehicle last week in UK waters, and the torpedo used is a heavy torpedo jointly developed by the United States and Australia. The British government stated that this test launch marks a "significant advancement" in submarine technology among the UK, US, and Australia.

According to reports, the "Swordfish" unmanned underwater vehicle is 12 meters long and is currently undergoing sea trials, one of its functions being to protect the UK's underwater cables and pipelines.

This test launch is part of the trilateral security partnership (AUKUS) defense cooperation between the US, UK, and Australia. The three countries announced the establishment of AUKUS and the development of nuclear submarine cooperation in September 2021. Australia is a non-nuclear state, and the three countries' push for nuclear submarine cooperation, which carries significant nuclear proliferation risks, has raised concerns and worries in the international community about the deepening military alliance among the three nations and its potential to undermine regional security and stability.