The AUKUS security alliance between the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia is embarking on the joint development of advanced unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs).

On the 30th (local time) at the 'Asia Security Summit (Shangri-La Dialogue)' in Singapore, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, UK Secretary of State for Defence John Healey, and Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles held a joint press conference to announce plans related to AUKUS 'Pillar 2'.

Secretary Pete Hegseth stated, "This key initiative will deliver a highly adaptable, multi-purpose UUV payload designed to support undersea operations and maintain collective superiority in the maritime domain." Secretary John Healey also emphasized that they will jointly develop advanced sensors and weapon systems for underwater drones to rapidly deploy the latest battlefield technologies into operational capabilities. Secretary Healey particularly added, "There has been a lot of talk but not enough action from AUKUS in the past."

Launched in 2021, AUKUS consists of 'Pillar 1', which centers on the joint development of nuclear-powered submarines, and 'Pillar 2', which covers cooperation in advanced defense technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing, undersea capabilities, hypersonics, and cyber. This UUV project falls precisely under Pillar 2.

Since the launch of Donald Trump's second administration last year, the US reviewed the AUKUS agreement signed under the previous Joe Biden administration but decided to maintain the existing framework of cooperation.

Accordingly, US Virginia-class nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSNs) will be rotationally deployed to Australia starting next year. From the early 2030s, Australia plans to directly acquire Virginia-class submarines. The UK and Australia will jointly develop 'AUKUS-class nuclear-powered attack submarines' utilizing US technology and construct them in their domestic shipyards. The UK plans to receive its first vessel in the late 2030s, while Australia plans to receive its first in the early 2040s.

Investment in submarine infrastructure is also accelerating. The Australian government will invest 3.9 billion Australian dollars in Osborne, near Adelaide in South Australia, to build construction facilities for AUKUS-class nuclear submarines. Additionally, it plans to spend 12 billion Australian dollars over the next 10 years to establish a nuclear submarine maintenance and repair complex near the HMAS Stirling base in Perth.

The US Department of Defense has also approved the establishment of a new naval organization to support the Submarine Rotational Force-West (SRF-West) in Australia, with US Navy personnel scheduled for rotational deployment starting at the end of this year. The defense ministers of the three countries assessed in a joint statement, "SRF-West will support submarine deployments and accelerate Australia's acquisition of independent nuclear submarine operation and maintenance capabilities."

Meanwhile, separately from the AUKUS project, Australia is also pushing forward with the development of the 'Ghost Shark', a large surveillance and strike UUV capable of long-range autonomous operations, investing 1.7 billion Australian dollars.