AUKUS partners to deploy undersea drones from 2027 as Indo-Pacific rivalry deepens

New Delhi ( Vivek Ojha ) : In the latest expansion of the AUKUS defence partnership as the three allies deepen cooperation on next-generation military technologies, the United States, Britain and Australia have unveiled plans to jointly develop and deploy advanced unmanned undersea vehicles (UUVs).

Announcing the initiative on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on Saturday, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said the programme would strengthen the allies’ ability to conduct surveillance, reconnaissance and strike operations beneath the sea surface. Deliveries of the autonomous systems are expected to begin in 2027.

What is Pillar Two” framework :

The project falls under AUKUS’s so-called “Pillar Two” framework, which focuses on advanced military technologies ranging from artificial intelligence and cyber capabilities to quantum computing, hypersonics and undersea systems. While much public attention has centred on AUKUS’s nuclear-powered submarine plans, the latest initiative signals a growing emphasis on autonomous and unmanned platforms.

In a joint statement, the three countries said the programme would enhance their capabilities in anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface operations, mine countermeasures, electronic warfare and manoeuvres in contested coastal environments.”The signature project will deliver a suite of highly adaptable multi-mission UUV payloads designed to support undersea operations and maintain our collective advantage in the maritime domain,” Hegseth said.

Formed by the three countries in 2021, AUKUS is part of their efforts to push back against China’s growing power in the Indo-Pacific region. China has called the AUKUS pact dangerous and warned it could spur a regional arms race.