Aukus partners launch underwater drone initiative to secure critical seabed infrastructure

The United States, United Kingdom and Australia have announced a joint initiative to develop uncrewed undersea vehicle (UUV) technology under the Aukus military pact. The project, described as the first signature delivery under Aukus Pillar Two, focuses on advanced capabilities including undersea robotics and artificial intelligence. Defence ministers from the three nations made the announcement at a security summit in Singapore, outlining plans to protect critical undersea infrastructure such as cables and pipelines from potential sabotage.

UK Defence Secretary John Healey confirmed that the United Kingdom would contribute £150 million ($201 million) to the effort, although the total cost of the project was not disclosed. Healey acknowledged previous criticisms regarding the pace of the alliance, stating that for too long the partners had talked too much and delivered too little. He asserted that this dynamic has changed under the current governments, with the new technology expected to be ready by next year.

The UUVs will be equipped with cutting-edge payloads and enabling systems designed to conduct strikes, surveillance, reconnaissance and logistics operations. According to a joint statement, sensors and weapons systems will be developed to provide advanced battle technologies, helping forces deal with threats to underwater infrastructure on which daily life depends. Healey noted that these efforts would strengthen deterrence in the Pacific, Atlantic and waters in the High North.

The announcement coincides with confirmed progress on other aspects of the Aukus agreement. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that the plan to rotate US and UK nuclear-powered submarines through Australia is still on track, with the first US Navy personnel due to arrive later this year. Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles confirmed that HMAS Stirling in Western Australia will be ready to host the rotational submarine force by the end of 2027, while work continues on a construction yard in South Australia for the future Aukus submarines.

The initiative emerges against a backdrop of heightened concern over undersea infrastructure security. Healey has previously accused Russia of running covert operations over cables and pipelines in waters north of the UK, an allegation Moscow has denied. British officials report a 30 per cent rise in Russian vessels spotted in UK waters over the past few years, with the UK connected by approximately 60 undersea cables. Additionally, Chinese ships are suspected of damaging undersea cables in waters surrounding Taiwan and in Swedish territory, with multiple reports of damage in the Baltic Sea.

Despite the detailed announcements, the defence ministers did not respond to questions from the BBC regarding whether the UUV project was specifically aimed at countering Russian and Chinese undersea activities, nor did they address whether progress on Aukus projects had previously been too slow. The Aukus pact, established in 2021, is widely viewed as a mechanism to counter China's growing maritime presence in the Indo-Pacific and rising tensions in disputed territories.