Defence ministers from the United States, Britain and Australia announced today a joint partnership to develop and deploy advanced underwater drone technology aimed at protecting undersea cables, strengthening maritime security and boosting military capabilities under the Aukus security pact.
These leaders said at the Shangri-La Dialogue security summit in Singapore that uncrewed undersea vehicle (UUV) technology, expected to be ready by next year, will be equipped with sensors, weapons systems and other advanced capabilities to protect seabed infrastructure, conduct surveillance and reconnaissance, and support military operations.
British Defence Secretary John Healey said the UK would contribute 201 million dollars to the project, the first major initiative under Aukus Pillar Two, which focuses on advanced defence technologies, including artificial intelligence, hypersonic weapons and undersea robotics.
The initiative falls under “Pillar Two” of the AUKUS defense pact and is targeted to be ready as early as 2027 to help protect critical seabed infrastructure like communication cables and energy pipelines.