Taiwan carried out the first tests of the Black Whale, a nine-metre extra-large uncrewed underwater vehicle developed with British partners, at the port of Su'ao in Yilan county on 11 November.
The vehicle was designed by Lungteh Shipbuilding with the British companies MSubs and Marine AI. It is an experimental vehicle for testing autonomous navigation, modular payloads and underwater reconnaissance. MSubs brings its experience from the XV Excalibur programme for the Royal Navy, and Marine AI supports the autonomous systems.
Its propulsion, speed, depth and endurance have not been made public, and Taiwan's navy has not announced a purchase or a timeline. The Black Whale follows the 30-metre Huilong uncrewed underwater vehicle shown in 2024 and is smaller and more modular.
Background
Lungteh Shipbuilding
Shipbuilder
A Taiwanese shipbuilder that designed the Black Whale uncrewed underwater vehicle with MSubs and Marine AI.
Black Whale
Extra-large uncrewed underwater vehicle
A nine-metre uncrewed underwater vehicle that Taiwan developed with British companies.
