The announcements were made in Singapore by the defence ministers of the three countries, including investments in the creation of systems and weaponry for uncrewed underwater vehicles.
This initiative “will provide a range of highly adaptable multi-mission UUV payloads aimed at supporting undersea operations and preserving our collective advantage in maritime settings,” stated US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.
He did not provide specifics on the systems referred to as “payload and effectors.”
“This will quickly equip our forces with the most advanced battlefield technologies as we collaboratively develop a variety of cutting-edge sensors and weapon systems for undersea drones,” remarked UK Defence Secretary John Healey.
Hegseth and Healey, along with Australia’s Richard Marles, also confirmed on Saturday that US submarine rotations are scheduled to commence by the end of next year at HMAS Stirling in Western Australia.
The three nations established the defence accord in 2021 under the leadership of President Donald Trump’s successor, Joe Biden. Following a review by the Trump administration, the US reaffirmed its dedication to the project last year.
Under Pillar One of Aukus, the US plans to sell Australia three nuclear-powered Virginia-class submarines, and all three nations will collaborate on the design and construction of new submarines over the upcoming decades. Pillar Two focuses on the sharing of advanced technologies, including quantum computing, artificial intelligence, and advanced weaponry.
The new agreement announced on Saturday includes a strategy to “streamline” Australia’s submarine procurement by restricting the purchase to in-service vessels, instead of the previously planned combination of used and new.
An official from the Australian government indicated that this choice will simplify training, maintenance, and supply chains if all US submarines are of the same variant. Additionally, Canberra retains the option to acquire up to two extra submarines if necessary, consistent with the original agreement.
