US, UK and Australia to develop underwater drone technology

The US, UK, and Australia will collaborate on developing uncrewed underwater vehicle (UUV) technology under their Aukus defense alliance, with the project set to be operational by next year. The UK Defense Secretary, John Healey, confirmed the country’s £150 million ($201 million) contribution, marking the first major initiative under Aukus’s Pillar Two, which focuses on advanced defense capabilities like hypersonic missiles, robotics, and AI. The UUVs will be equipped with cutting-edge payloads and systems for protecting seabed infrastructure, conducting strikes, and performing surveillance, reconnaissance, and logistics. Healey emphasized the technology’s role in deterring threats to critical underwater cables and pipelines, which are vital to daily life and have faced increased risks from state actors. The project follows recent allegations that Russia and China have targeted such infrastructure in regions like the North Atlantic, Baltic Sea, and waters near Taiwan and Sweden. Aukus, launched in 2021, aims to counter China’s growing influence in the Indo-Pacific and address rising tensions in disputed territories like the South China Sea. While the alliance has faced criticism for slow progress, Healey acknowledged past delays but stated that recent efforts have shifted toward tangible results. The UUV initiative is part of broader Aukus goals, including developing nuclear-powered submarines for the UK and Australia under Pillar One. The announcement came during a security summit in Singapore, where defense ministers from the three nations did not directly address questions about whether the project was specifically targeting Russian or Chinese undersea activities. However, the timing aligns with recent claims, including Healey’s accusation last month that Russia conducted covert operations near UK underwater cables. Moscow has denied these allegations, while China has been linked to suspected damage to cables in Swedish and Taiwanese waters. The project underscores the growing strategic importance of undersea infrastructure, with British officials noting a 30% rise in Russian vessels near UK waters in recent years. The UUVs will enhance the alliance’s ability to monitor and respond to threats in critical maritime regions, including the Pacific, Atlantic, and High North. Australia, in particular, stands to gain significantly from the collaboration, as it prepares to receive nuclear propulsion technology for its submarine fleet, marking a major upgrade to its defense capabilities.