Breaking News: British Navy Begins Strategic Shift with Undersea Drone Deployment From Nuclear Submarine.

As part of a trial that could reshape the boundaries of modern naval warfare, the British Royal Navy has successfully tested the launch and recovery of an autonomous underwater vehicle (UUV) from a nuclear-powered attack submarine. The information was made public by the Royal Navy in an official statement released on 22 July 2025, confirming that the trial took place in the Mediterranean and represents a major strategic development in the field of undersea operations.
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This unprecedented test involved an Astute-class submarine, a key component of the Royal Navy’s underwater fleet (Picture source: UK MoD)

The operation was conducted under Project Scylla, an initiative of Pillar Two of the AUKUS security partnership, which brings together the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia to develop advanced defence capabilities. This unprecedented test involved an Astute-class submarine, a key component of the Royal Navy’s underwater fleet. These vessels, among the most advanced in service globally, displace 7,400 tonnes and are equipped with Tomahawk cruise missiles and Spearfish heavyweight torpedoes. Designed for global covert operations, they provide an effective platform for integrating autonomous systems in the underwater domain.

The drone used in the trial is believed to be a variant of L3Harris’s Iver4 900, a modular underwater vehicle measuring 3.8 meters in length and weighing approximately 90 kilograms. The Iver4 can carry sonar equipment, data link systems, and conduct long-endurance missions. It is intended for tasks such as reconnaissance, seabed mapping, mine countermeasures, and the detection of underwater threats. The test demonstrated that torpedo tubes can be used to deploy and recover such autonomous systems, paving the way for new forms of undersea projection.

Project Scylla is being developed by the Autonomy Unit within the UK Ministry of Defence’s Submarine Delivery Agency (SDA), in partnership with L3Harris, a major player in maritime robotics. The program aims to integrate artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, and autonomous systems into future naval capabilities across both the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific theatres.

Commodore Marcus Rose, Deputy Director for Underwater Battlespace Capabilities, highlighted the significance of the trial, describing it as “a major step in delivering new capability to the Submarine Service”, and underscored the Royal Navy’s intent to build a hybrid fleet combining manned platforms and autonomous systems.

The trial also forms part of the Royal Navy’s Atlantic Bastion strategy, which aims to modernize the fleet by incorporating emerging technologies such as autonomy and AI to enhance operational effectiveness in contested environments. This approach includes expanded use of unmanned vehicles, both on the surface and underwater, to ensure technological and tactical flexibility.

The test was conducted during Operation Highmast, the Royal Navy’s flagship deployment for 2025. The mission is led by Carrier Strike Group 25 (CSG25), centered around HMS Prince of Wales, and involves over 4,500 British personnel including sailors, Royal Marines, Royal Air Force units, and Army elements. The group, which includes the submarine HMS Astute, passed through the Mediterranean en route to the Indo-Pacific for an eight-month mission involving extensive multinational exercises. The deployment reflects the UK’s commitment to regional security and close cooperation with key partners.

The successful test demonstrates the Royal Navy’s effort to maintain strategic advantage in undersea warfare. The integration of autonomous drones into submarine operations expands intelligence capabilities, extends operational reach, and addresses challenges associated with increasing competition beneath the surface. In this context, the Navy plans to continue investing in autonomous technologies developed under programs such as Project Scylla, in order to adapt to the evolving nature of naval combat.