UK test-fires US torpedo from British drone ahead of Burnham-Trump talks
The UK has test-fired a US torpedo from a British undersea drone in a move presented as a boost to maritime ties ahead of Prime Minister Andy Burnham's first meeting with US President Donald Trump in New York on Tuesday.
As Burnham arrived for the United Nations General Assembly, Downing Street also announced a new UK-US partnership on AI and autonomy, while confirming that global issues including AI, Ukraine and security in West Asia are expected to dominate talks among world leaders in the city.
Downing Street said the Plymouth-made drone was used in the first test firing of an anti-submarine weapon jointly developed by the US and Australia under the AUKUS programme. The heavyweight torpedo, launched from the 12-metre-long UK-made undersea drone Excalibur, is designed to sink ships and deep-diving submarines.
"The firing, which happened in UK waters last week, marks the first time either country had launched a torpedo from an undersea uncrewed vessel, rather than a crewed submarine. It marks a major advance in the future of submarine technology for the UK, US, and Australia, and delivers a significant breakthrough for Euro-Atlantic security and NATO's undersea advantage.
"This will build on the next generation technology already being developed through AUKUS, the landmark partnership bringing together the US, UK, and Australia to produce a new fleet of cutting-edge attack submarines and undersea autonomous capabilities to deter adversaries long into the future," Downing Street said.
In a pre-visit statement, Burnham said: "We are at our strongest when we work with our partners to tackle the most complex shared challenges we face, driven by our values.
"When the global financial crisis hit, the UK brought together the world's leading economies. As we confront the opportunities and challenges posed by artificial intelligence (AI), we will show that same leadership, ensuring rapidly changing technology is harnessed for good to make our countries safer and stronger.
"Our work together already shows what can be achieved when our two countries combine our expertise and innovation," he said.
Burnham said he would use the week to push for closer international cooperation on AI, a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, and renewed efforts to end the conflict in the Middle East. "This week I will be making the case for closer international cooperation on AI, a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, and renewed efforts to bring an end to the conflict in the Middle East because what happens abroad impacts each and every one of us at home," he said.
His UNGA speech is expected to argue that AI should be used for good to help bring down the cost of living and support a more stable and secure world. As part of that effort, Burnham will announce the launch of work between the UK and US on a new AI and Autonomy partnership, which he described as "bringing together the brightest minds to strengthen the protection of critical infrastructure, deter those who threaten our security, and use the enormous potential of AI to our advantage".
According to Downing Street, the collaboration will bring together the UK's Ministry of Defence Rapid AI Delivery Taskforce and the US Department of War Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office to work on AI and autonomy, with the aim of accelerating trusted and interoperable capabilities that strengthen deterrence and the two countries' technological edge.
During the visit, Burnham also confirmed that the G20 Leaders' Summit will be held in Manchester next November. Downing Street said events will be held across the UK through the year, and that the UK will take over the G20 presidency from the US after the summit in Miami in December. The announcements in New York combined defence, technology and diplomacy, with the UK presenting closer cooperation with the US as central to its approach on security and global challenges.
