US Engineers World’s First Drone-Fired Torpedo That Hits 30+ Knots Underwater

Anduril has unveiled a new family of torpedoes, the Copperhead-M, which are designed to be launched by autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). Announced on April 7, the Copperhead-M series includes high-speed, software-defined torpedoes intended for use in both commercial and defense missions.

The launch of these torpedoes addresses a significant gap in the Navy’s current capabilities. Despite advances in autonomous vehicles across air, surface, and subsea domains, torpedoes have remained tied to outdated Cold War-era designs. These traditional systems are expensive, slow to produce, and primarily linked to legacy platforms such as nuclear submarines and warships. With the growing need for more autonomous, quickly deployable subsea systems, Anduril’s Copperhead-M aims to provide a solution that is both affordable and highly effective.

The Copperhead-M series includes two models: the Copperhead-100 and Copperhead-500. These torpedoes vary in size, payload capacity, and range, allowing them to be used for a wide range of missions. The Copperhead-100 is designed for more compact tasks, with a diameter of 12.75 inches and a payload capacity of 100 pounds. It can travel at speeds over 30 knots and is well-suited for search and rescue, infrastructure inspections, and environmental monitoring. The larger Copperhead-500 has a diameter of 21 inches and can carry up to 500 pounds, making it ideal for more complex and demanding missions.

Both models are capable of carrying various types of sensors, such as side-scan sonar, magnetometers, and chemical detectors, enhancing their ability to gather critical data. The versatility of these torpedoes also extends to their deployment, as Anduril plans to launch them from both large drones and cargo planes. The Copperhead-100 can be deployed by a Group 4 unmanned aerial system (UAS), while the heavier Copperhead-500 requires a Group 5 UAS for launch.

One of the most significant advantages of the Copperhead-M series is its ability to be mass-produced, making it a more cost-effective alternative to traditional torpedoes. This mass-producibility, combined with the fact that the torpedoes can be launched from autonomous vehicles, greatly enhances the flexibility and effectiveness of naval operations. For example, Anduril’s Dive-XL AUV can carry dozens of Copperhead-100s or multiple Copperhead-500s, enabling fleets of autonomous vehicles to deliver underwater firepower and control vast ocean areas autonomously.

Beyond military applications, the Copperhead-M torpedoes also hold promise for commercial and humanitarian efforts. Their ability to carry sensors makes them useful for environmental monitoring and search-and-rescue operations. They can travel at high speeds and reach areas that might be difficult for human-operated vessels, providing valuable data on underwater infrastructure or environmental conditions.