US, UK and Australia to Develop Underwater Drones Under Aukus Pact

The United States, United Kingdom and Australia have announced plans to develop underwater drone technology to protect undersea cables and strengthen defence under their military alliance known as Aukus.

The uncrewed undersea vehicle (UUV) project is expected to be ready by next year. While the total cost was not disclosed, British Defence Secretary John Healey confirmed the UK will contribute £150 million, about $201 million. The announcement was made at a security summit in Singapore, where defence ministers acknowledged criticism that Aukus projects had been slow. Healey said the alliance had “talked too much and delivered too little” in the past, but insisted progress was now being made.

Aukus, launched in 2021, focuses on building nuclear submarines and sharing military expertise. It is widely seen as a response to China’s growing maritime presence in the Indo Pacific and rising tensions in disputed waters such as the South China Sea. The UUV project is the first major initiative under Aukus’s Pillar Two, which covers advanced capabilities like hypersonic missiles, robotics and artificial intelligence.

A joint statement said the drones will be equipped with “cutting edge payloads and enabling systems” to protect seabed infrastructure, conduct strikes, surveillance, reconnaissance and logistics operations. Healey added that sensors and weapons systems will be developed to give forces advanced battle technologies and help defend underwater cables and pipelines that are vital to daily life.

The announcement comes amid growing concerns about undersea security. Healey recently accused Russia of covert operations targeting cables and pipelines north of the UK, though Moscow denied the claims. In December, the UK and Norway signed a pact to track Russian submarines in the North Atlantic. British officials say the UK is connected by about 60 undersea cables, which have faced increased threats, with Russian vessel activity rising by 30 percent in recent years.

Elsewhere, Chinese ships have been suspected of damaging cables near Taiwan and Sweden, while several incidents have also been reported in the Baltic Sea.

The defence ministers did not answer questions on whether the UUV project was specifically aimed at countering Russian or Chinese activities. They also avoided commenting on whether Aukus projects were progressing too slowly.

Under Pillar One of the pact, nuclear powered submarines will be built in the UK and Australia. Australia will become only the second country after the UK to receive Washington’s nuclear propulsion technology. However, the submarines are not expected to be ready until the 2040s, raising concerns about whether they will arrive in time to replace Australia’s ageing fleet.

To bridge the gap, the US and UK will rotate their nuclear submarines through Australia, with the first US navy personnel due later this year. Australia’s Defence Minister Richard Marles said the HMAS Stirling base in Western Australia will be ready to host the rotational force by 2027, while work continues to establish a construction yard in South Australia.