Unmanned Marine Systems: Procurement
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 8 September 2025, to question 71970 on Submarines, what progress has he made on development of the XLAUV fleet ahead of the awarding of funding for the trials and evaluation contract to M Subs regarding CETUS.
Answered by Luke Pollard
Experimental Vessel (XV) EXCALIBUR continues sea trials, with the vessel recently becoming the first extra large autonomous uncrewed vessel (XLAUV) to achieve Full Certification with the Naval Authority. Payload and experimentation trials are underway, including planned joint trials with AUKUS partners. This partnership has also progressed lines of development required to effectively field, operate, and co-ordinate automated uncrewed vessels in a variety of use cases.
The Defence Investment Plan announced that extra large uncrewed underwater vessels (XLUUV) will be developed for the Hybrid Navy. These vessels, to be known as Type 93 vessels, will working towards a minimum deployable capability by 2029.
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