US, UK and Australia to develop underwater drone technology

The United States, United Kingdom and Australia have announced plans to jointly develop advanced underwater drone technology under the Aukus defence pact, marking the first major initiative under its second pillar focused on emerging military capabilities. Defence ministers from the three nations revealed that uncrewed underwater vehicles (UUVs) equipped with cutting-edge payloads and enabling systems would be designed to protect critical seabed infrastructure, conduct surveillance, and support strike and logistics operations. With an initial commitment of £150 million from the UK, the project aims to deliver operational systems by 2025, addressing longstanding concerns about undersea threats and supporting broader deterrence efforts in the Indo-Pacific, North Atlantic and Arctic regions.

Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue security summit in Singapore, UK Defence Secretary John Healey acknowledged criticism of slow progress within Aukus, stating that “for too long in Aukus, we talked too much and delivered too little” but emphasised that “that has now changed under our three governments.” The announcement follows warnings from British officials about increased Russian naval activity near undersea cables and pipelines, including a suspected covert operation in waters north of the UK last month. Russia has denied the allegations, while China has been linked to disruptions of undersea cables in the Taiwan Strait and near Sweden. The new UUV initiative is expected to bolster the protection of these vital networks, which carry over 95% of global internet and communications traffic.

Under Aukus Pillar Two, the partners are also collaborating on advanced technologies including long-range hypersonic missiles, AI-driven systems, and undersea robotics. The joint statement described the UUV project as part of a broader effort to enhance “advanced capabilities” across all three nations. While defence ministers declined to specify whether the initiative was directly aimed at countering Russian or Chinese undersea activities, the timing and context suggest a strategic response to growing maritime tensions. Earlier this year, the UK and Norway agreed to jointly patrol the North Atlantic to monitor Russian submarine movements, underscoring the alliance’s focus on securing key maritime chokepoints.

The Aukus pact, established in 2021, remains anchored in Pillar One, which involves the development and deployment of nuclear-powered attack submarines for the UK and Australian navies. Analysts view the expanded cooperation under Pillar Two as a deliberate strategy to counterbalance China’s rising influence in the Indo-Pacific and Russia’s assertive behaviour in Europe. By accelerating the deployment of autonomous underwater systems, the three nations aim to strengthen maritime domain awareness and deterrence, ensuring the resilience of global critical infrastructure amid escalating geopolitical rivalry.