Australia, the US, and the UK have announced the launch of the first AUKUS Pillar II Signature Project, aimed at developing advanced payloads and systems for uncrewed undersea vehicles (UUVs).
The agreement was revealed following a meeting at the US Embassy in Singapore with Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles MP, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, and UK Defence Secretary John Healey MP.
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Delivery of the technology scheduled to begin in 2027, according to a joint statement released by the US Department of War on 30 May 2026.
Officials stated that this Pillar II project is designed to improve the partners’ capacity to protect national seabed infrastructure, enhance surveillance and reconnaissance and enable strike and logistics operations.
In addition, the new systems will strengthen superiority in anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare, mine countermeasures, electronic warfare, and contested littoral movement.
According to a statement released by the UK Ministry of Defence, payloads including sensors and weapons systems, developed from this project, will be compatible with uncrewed undersea vehicle fleets in the UK, US, and Australia.
In addition to the Pillar II development, the three governments confirmed that progress on AUKUS Pillar I, Australia’s acquisition of a conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarine capability, “remains on track”.
The AUKUS Defence Ministers reported ongoing progress in setting up the Submarine Rotational Force-West, which will involve UK and US nuclear-powered submarines maintaining a rotational presence at HMAS Stirling in Australia.
The initial deployment of a US nuclear-powered submarine to HMAS Stirling is planned for 2027, with a UK Astute-class submarine rotation to follow.
Earlier this year, HMAS Stirling hosted its first submarine maintenance period for a UK Astute-class submarine.
The announcements form part of a series of AUKUS developments by the Government, following the Geelong Treaty signed in July 2025, which set out a framework for enhanced UK-Australian defence cooperation.
The AUKUS partnership is supported by a planned increase in defence spending, which is expected to reach 2.6% of GDP from 2027.
In February this year, the Australian Government announced a payment of A$310m ($218m) to procure long lead items from the UK to aid the development of Australia’s conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines.
