UK’s CETUS XLUUV: Royal Navy’s Next-Gen Uncrewed Submarine Takes Shape

The UK Royal Navy has taken a major step forward in underwater warfare with the launch of the CETUS XLUUV, a cutting-edge extra-large uncrewed underwater vehicle developed by MSubs. The state-of-the-art autonomous submarine was spotted entering the water at Turnchapel Wharf in Plymouth on February 28, marking the beginning of its rigorous testing phase scheduled to commence next month.

Funded under the UK’s Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Spearhead programme, Project CETUS is designed to de-risk the future acquisition of large autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) while shaping the Royal Navy’s future underwater warfare strategy. The CETUS XLUUV is expected to play a key role in intelligence gathering, seabed warfare, and anti-submarine operations, allowing the Royal Navy to explore how uncrewed submarines can enhance its maritime dominance.

MSubs secured a £15.4 million contract in November 2022 to design and construct this next-generation submersible, which stands as the largest and most sophisticated autonomous submarine ever built for a European navy. Measuring 12 meters long, 2.2 meters in diameter, and weighing up to 25 tonnes with a full test payload, CETUS is engineered to be a highly versatile test platform.

Beyond its immediate testing role, the vehicle will serve as a foundation for future Royal Navy autonomous underwater projects, including Project CABOT, which aims to establish a deployable and persistent wide-area ASW search capability in the North Atlantic. Under the CABOT initiative, the Royal Navy envisions the use of XLUUVs in combination with other advanced sensors and uncrewed platforms to strengthen its underwater presence.

Designed to operate autonomously for up to five days, the CETUS XLUUV is built with the flexibility to integrate additional battery modules to extend its endurance further. The Royal Navy’s broader ambitions include developing even more advanced XLUUVs under the Bastion Atlantic initiative, which could see these uncrewed submarines working alongside other high-tech naval assets to ensure the UK’s continued maritime superiority.

With the CETUS XLUUV now in the water, the Royal Navy is entering a new era of autonomous underwater operations, setting the stage for a future where uncrewed submarines play a crucial role in securing the world’s oceans.