The United Kingdom, the United States and Australia have announced a trilateral initiative to develop and deploy autonomous underwater drones, a move that underscores the growing strategic importance of the seabed in geopolitical competition. The agreement, signed at the Defence and Security Equipment International conference in London, commits the three nations to co-operate on the design, testing and procurement of unmanned underwater vehicles for mine countermeasures, surveillance and seabed warfare.
Officials briefed on the deal said the partnership aims to counter the rapid expansion of Chinese and Russian underwater capabilities. The Royal Navy has already trialled variants of the Remus and Swordfish drones, and a new class of large autonomous submarine is expected to enter service by 2028. The US Navy’s Orca extra-large unmanned underwater vehicle and Australia’s Ghost Shark programme will provide the technological backbone.
Defence Secretary John Healey described the alliance as “a leap forward in maintaining our strategic advantage beneath the waves”. He added that the collaboration would pool resources to accelerate development, reduce costs and ensure interoperability. The announcement follows the AUKUS pact on nuclear-powered submarines and reinforces the three countries’ intent to dominate the undersea domain.
Analysts emphasise that the initiative reflects a broader shift in naval doctrine. The seabed is no longer a passive environment but a contested battlespace, critical for the security of fibre-optic cables, energy pipelines and military communications. The drones will be capable of operating in depth and in complex currents, collecting intelligence and, if necessary, disabling adversary infrastructure.
Critics question the transparency and accountability of autonomous weapons systems. However, officials stress that all drones will remain under human supervision. The first joint exercises are scheduled for the North Atlantic later this year.
