As part of a larger attempt to offset China’s rapidly rising influence in the Indo-Pacific, the United States is extending its high-tech military collaboration with Australia and the United Kingdom, ranging from electronic warfare to underwater drones.
At the U.S. military’s defense technology base in Silicon Valley on Friday, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin met with defense leaders from Australia and the United Kingdom to negotiate a new agreement to enhance technology cooperation and information sharing. In a joint statement, the parties stated that their objectives are to “contribute to stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond,” better handle global security problems, and guarantee that each can defend against threats that are emerging quickly.
At the Defense Innovation Unit headquarters, Austin had a meeting with the British Secretary of State for defense, Grant Shapps, and Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles.
At a press conference held following the meeting, Austin stated that the endeavor will demonstrate that “we are stronger together” and will, among other things, quickly accelerate the sophistication of drone systems.
Following its first announcement in 2021, the new technology agreement represents the next phase of Australia’s military cooperation with the United States. Plans for the so-called AUKUS alliance, which aims to provide Australia with a fleet of eight nuclear-powered submarines, have been outlined by the three countries. Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States are together referred to as AUKUS.
As per the agreement, Australia will purchase three Virginia-class submarines from the US and work with Britain to construct five AUKUS-class submarines. The subs would be constructed in Adelaide, Australia, using
American nuclear technology, and the first one would be completed by 2040. They would not be armed with nuclear weapons.
Marles stated that the submarine program has advanced significantly. He went on to say that Australia needs better marine drones and precise strike capabilities because it is an island nation.
Furthermore, Shapps stated that there has never been a bigger need for innovation due to China’s “undermining the freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific.” He stated that unrestricted maritime navigation is essential, especially in the South China Sea and the Pacific.
Officials claim that personnel in the Australian Navy have already begun their nuclear power training at American military academies.
The United States had earlier this year declared that it would assist Australia in producing guided missiles and rockets for both nations within a two-year timeframe, thereby broadening its military-industrial base. They agreed to work together to produce guided multiple-launch rocket systems in Australia by 2025.
Concerns over China’s fast-increasing military footprint in the region and rising defense budget have been the main drivers of the increased collaboration between the two countries. Beijing announced the possibility of establishing a Chinese naval facility in the Solomon Islands when it signed a security agreement with them last year.
The United States has stepped up military drills, troop presence, and other initiatives in the area. Due to trade issues, Beijing’s military build-up on some artificial islands, U.S. support for Taiwan’s self-government, and several violent aircraft and ship incidents, U.S. ties with China have deteriorated recently.
The new agreement also enhances the ability of the three nations to share intelligence and data gathered by their sonobuoys and establishes a series of military drills, including the use of surface and underwater marine drones. Submarines and other waterborne objects are detected by the buoys.
To enhance anti-submarine warfare, it also asks for plans to increase the use of artificial intelligence, notably on P-8A surveillance planes, to digest data from the buoys more swiftly. Additionally, it states that to improve their capacity for object detection and tracking in deep space, the three nations would build new radar stations.
Austin was able to spend some time before the meeting began seeing various projects in development, such as swarming drones being developed for warfighters and a virtual training device that will teach Ukrainian pilots how to fly F-16 fighter jets, thanks to high-tech demonstrations set up inside the headquarters and across a sizable parking area at DIU. The projects show the three countries’ continuous efforts to advance technology, an area in which China frequently leads, rather than being connected to the Australian deal.
Austin saw a cluster of five drones take off from the pavement and hover over the spectators as he browsed the exhibits; each drone was operated by a single employee using a tiny handheld module. According to Skydio CEO Adam Bry, the short-range reconnaissance drones, known as the Skydio X2D, are already being used in warfare, but swarming technology and the capacity to operate them all from a single device are still being developed.
Air Force Maj. Alex Horn gave a demonstration of a new portable pilot-training module inside the DIU offices. This module will enable American instructors to remotely coach pilots abroad by utilizing a virtual reality headset. The purpose of the four allegedly “immersive training devices” is to teach Ukrainian pilots how to fly F-16s. They are scheduled to be sent to the Morris Air National Guard Base in Arizona next month.
According to Horn, the devices—which are less expensive than other systems—will hasten the training of Ukrainian pilots accustomed to operating Soviet aircraft, who must first complete an F-16 foundations course before proceeding to a cockpit training program.
