London announced that Britain and the United States have carried out a live torpedo firing from an uncrewed underwater vessel for the first time. The test took place in UK territorial waters last week as part of the AUKUS security partnership that also involves Australia. The British government described the trial as a "major advance in submarine technology" and said it strengthens NATO's undersea capabilities.

The weapon used was a heavyweight torpedo jointly developed by the United States and Australia. It was launched from a 12‑metre (about 40‑foot) British‑built autonomous underwater drone called Excalibur. Sidharth Kaushal, a senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, said the development was "noteworthy" because it shows that uncrewed systems can carry lethal payloads beyond mere surveillance.

The announcement coincided with a visit by UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham to New York for the United Nations General Assembly. Burnham is scheduled to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump during the summit, his first such meeting since assuming office in July. During the trip, Burnham plans to launch an AI and autonomy partnership with the United States aimed at protecting critical national infrastructure, including sea lanes and airspace. He also intends to advocate for greater international cooperation on artificial intelligence, a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine, and renewed efforts to end hostilities in the Middle East.

Burnham confirmed that the United Kingdom will host the G20 summit in November 2027 in Manchester, a city in the north‑west of England.