English 
US, UK and Australia to Develop Underwater Drone Technology
The US, UK and Australia to develop underwater drone technology as the first signature project under Pillar Two of the Aukus defence pact, the three countries’ defence ministers announced at the Shangri-La Dialogue security summit in Singapore on Saturday. The uncrewed undersea vehicle (UUV) technology is expected to be ready by next year, with the UK contributing £150 million ($201 million) to the project. British Defence Secretary John Healey acknowledged past criticism of the alliance’s slow progress, saying: “For too long in Aukus, we talked too much and delivered too little. That has now changed under our three governments.” The drones are designed to protect undersea cables and pipelines, conduct strikes, surveil, and perform reconnaissance and logistics operations.
What Was Announced
A joint statement from the three defence ministers said the new project would see “cutting-edge payloads and enabling systems” developed for UUVs. Healey said sensors and weapons systems would also be developed for the drones, which would “rapidly give our forces advanced battle technologies” Aukus joint defence ministers’ statement, 30 May 2026.
The technology would help deal with threats “including to our underwater cables and pipelines on which so much of our daily life depends,” Healey said. He added that the efforts would strengthen deterrence in the Pacific, Atlantic, and waters in the High North.
The total cost of the project was not stated. The announcement marks the first concrete project under Aukus’s Pillar Two, which covers advanced capabilities including long-range hypersonic missiles, undersea robotics, and artificial intelligence.
Pillar One of the pact involves the development of nuclear-powered attack submarines for the UK and Australian navies, a programme scheduled for the 2040s. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that the plan to rotate US and UK nuclear-powered submarines through Australia remained “on track,” with the first US Navy personnel due to arrive later this year US Department of Defense briefing, 30 May 2026.
Aukus explained — the submarines, the pillars, and the strategic logic
Why Undersea Infrastructure Matters
The UK is connected by approximately 60 undersea cables, which British officials say are increasingly under threat. There has been a 30% rise in Russian vessels spotted in UK waters over recent years. Healey last month accused Russia of running a covert operation over cables and pipelines in waters north of the UK. Moscow has denied the allegations.
Chinese ships are suspected of damaging undersea cables in waters surrounding Taiwan and in Swedish territory. Multiple cables have also been damaged in the Baltic Sea.
In December, the UK and Norway signed a pact to hunt Russian submarines in the North Atlantic specifically to protect undersea cables. The infrastructure at risk is the physical architecture of the global internet, financial transaction networks, and energy supply chains.
The three defence ministers declined to answer a BBC question on whether the UUV technology project was aimed at countering Russian and Chinese undersea activities. They also did not answer a question on whether progress on Aukus projects had been too slow.
The hidden war beneath the waves — how undersea cables became a strategic vulnerability
The Two Pillars of Aukus
The drone programme highlights the operational distinction between Aukus’s two pillars. Pillar One — the nuclear submarine programme — operates on a timeline measured in decades. Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles acknowledged the pressure, telling reporters there was “no plan B” for the submarine project.
Australia will become only the second country to receive Washington’s nuclear propulsion technology. The Aukus submarines are scheduled for the 2040s. In the interim, the US and UK will rotate existing nuclear-powered submarines through Australia, and Australia will purchase secondhand US submarines in the 2030s.
Marles said the HMAS Stirling navy base in Western Australia would be ready to host the rotational submarine force by the end of 2027, with work “at a pace” to establish a construction yard in South Australia.
Pillar Two is designed for speed. The underwater drone programme is expected to deliver operational capability next year, a timeline radically shorter than the submarine programme. The drones represent a recognition that the threat environment is deteriorating faster than the industrial base can produce submarines.
Pillar Two and the acceleration of Aukus — why speed now matters more than scale
FAQ: Aukus Underwater Drone Programme 2026
What is the Aukus underwater drone programme?
It is the first signature project under Pillar Two of the Aukus defence pact. The US, UK, and Australia will develop unmanned underwater vehicles capable of protecting seabed infrastructure, conducting strikes, surveillance, reconnaissance, and logistics operations.
When will the drones be ready?
The technology is expected to be available by next year. The UK is contributing £150 million. The total project cost has not been disclosed.
Why are undersea cables a security concern?
Undersea cables carry global internet data, financial transactions, and energy supplies. The UK has about 60 such cables. Officials report a 30% rise in Russian vessels in UK waters, and Chinese ships are suspected of damaging cables near Taiwan and Sweden.
What is the difference between Pillar One and Pillar Two?
Pillar One covers nuclear-powered submarines, scheduled for the 2040s. Pillar Two covers advanced capabilities, such as hypersonic missiles, undersea robotics, and AI, with shorter development timelines.
When will Aukus submarines be ready?
The submarines are scheduled for the 2040s. US and UK submarines will rotate through Australia in the interim, with Australia buying secondhand US submarines in the 2030s.
Written by the Foreign and Defence Desk, drawing on the Aukus joint defence ministers’ statement, UK Ministry of Defence briefings, US Department of Defence announcements, and Australian Department of Defence comments at the Shangri-La Dialogue. The desk has covered the Aukus alliance since its inception in 2021.
Source: UK Ministry of Defence, US Department of Defense, Australian Department of Defence, Shangri-La Dialogue