The announcement was made during the Shangri-La Dialogue security summit in Singapore, where defence ministers from the three countries outlined plans to accelerate collaboration on advanced military technologies. The first capabilities are expected to enter service by 2027.
The project marks the first major initiative launched under AUKUS Pillar Two, the section of the pact focused on advanced defence capabilities rather than the nuclear-powered submarine programme that forms Pillar One.
The move comes amid growing concern among Western governments about threats to undersea infrastructure. Damage to subsea cables and pipelines has drawn increasing attention in recent years, with officials pointing to incidents involving vessels operating near critical seabed assets.
New Underwater Systems Set for Deployment by 2027
According to the UK Ministry of Defence, the three AUKUS nations will jointly develop payloads and enabling systems for uncrewed underwater vehicles (UUVs). These technologies will include sensors and weapons systems designed to support surveillance, reconnaissance, logistics operations and the protection of undersea infrastructure.
Speaking in Singapore, UK Defence Secretary John Healey said the project would help deliver “ground-breaking underwater capabilities” while strengthening cooperation among the three allies. He added that the programme would contribute to the Royal Navy’s transition towards a hybrid fleet combining crewed and uncrewed platforms.
According to the joint AUKUS announcement, the technologies will be designed for deployment across the UUV fleets of all three countries. The UK government stated that the systems would increase collective deterrence and support maritime operations in both the Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic regions.
Healey also acknowledged criticism that progress under AUKUS had been slow. “For too long in AUKUS, we talked too much and delivered too little,” he said, adding that the situation had changed under the current governments.
The UK confirmed it would contribute £150 million to the programme. The Ministry of Defence also announced that three British firms and one US company had been selected as winners of the 2025 AUKUS Maritime Innovation Challenge, sharing £3 million in funding to develop and test new capabilities.
Focus on Seabed Security amid Rising Concerns over Cable Damage
Protection of subsea infrastructure featured prominently in the ministers’ remarks. The UK is connected by around 60 undersea cables that carry communications, internet traffic and energy supplies. Similar networks are considered vital to Australia and other allied nations.
According to the BBC, Healey recently accused Russia of conducting covert activity around cables and pipelines in waters north of the United Kingdom. Russia has denied those allegations. British officials have also reported a rise in Russian vessel activity in UK waters in recent years.
Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles described undersea cables as critical infrastructure during remarks at the summit. He noted that about 99% of Australia’s internet traffic travels through just 15 subsea cables. Marles said the “seabed is becoming a battlefield” and referenced several recent incidents involving damaged cables in waters near Taiwan and in the Baltic Sea.
The three ministers did not directly answer questions about whether the new UUV programme was specifically intended to counter Russian or Chinese activities. According to reports from the Shangri-La Dialogue, they instead emphasised the broader goal of improving maritime security and protecting infrastructure that supports modern economies and communications networks.
