UK industry to lead development of three advanced AUKUS undersea technologies

British industry is set to lead the development of three advanced undersea technologies for the AUKUS security partnership, strengthening allied maritime capabilities while supporting innovation, investment and skilled jobs across the UK.

Announced by the Ministry of Defence on 27 October, the initiative follows a week of testing and demonstrations at the Maritime Big Play exercise in San Diego, California. The programme brings together Australia, the UK and the United States to accelerate the development and deployment of advanced autonomous maritime systems.

Three technologies to transform undersea operations

The UK will lead the development and delivery of three advanced sensor payloads for uncrewed underwater vehicles (UUVs), designed to improve surveillance, threat detection and operational effectiveness beneath the ocean surface. The technologies are:

Synthetic Aperture Sonar: Designed to collect detailed underwater information, supporting improved awareness of the subsea environment.

Deployable Anti-Submarine Warfare Sensor: Enables the deployment of sensors to detect and classify underwater threats, strengthening anti-submarine warfare capabilities.

Deployable Non-Kinetic Effector: Provides an additional capability to generate effects underwater, expanding the potential operational applications of uncrewed systems.

Together, these technologies will help uncrewed underwater vehicles monitor large areas of ocean and protect critical undersea infrastructure. The payloads are expected to be available across the three nations’ UUV fleets from 2027, enhancing interoperability and supporting security across the Euro-Atlantic, High North and Indo-Pacific.

Advancing the AUKUS partnership

The programme represents a significant milestone for AUKUS Pillar II, which focuses on developing advanced defence capabilities through collaboration between the three partner nations. Maritime Big Play provides a realistic testing environment in which crewed and uncrewed systems can be integrated, evaluated and refined before wider adoption. The latest exercise explored four key areas: anti-submarine warfare, lethality, contested resupply, and subsea and seabed warfare.

The UK led the anti-submarine warfare strand, contributing 13 uncrewed surface vehicles, two anti-submarine warfare targets and four underwater gliders, supported by six industry partners. These activities are helping accelerate the transition from technological innovation to operational capability, demonstrating how autonomous systems can work alongside crewed platforms to deliver a more flexible and effective naval force.

Creating opportunities for British industry

The initiative also highlights the contribution of UK companies to next-generation maritime defence technology. Businesses of different sizes are supporting the development of autonomous systems and the control technologies needed to enable multiple underwater platforms to operate together. Companies based in Frome, Basingstoke and Dorchester are among those contributing to the wider AUKUS innovation programme.

The Maritime Innovation Challenge has also awarded a share of £3 million in funding to four suppliers: SEA Ltd, Decision Analysis Services Ltd, A2i and US-based MSI Transducers. Their work focuses on innovative capabilities that enable the command, control and cooperation of undersea systems. With 12 UK industry partners showcasing their capabilities at Maritime Big Play, the programme demonstrates the breadth of British expertise and the potential for defence collaboration to create skilled employment and economic opportunities.

Building a more capable Hybrid Navy

The development of these three technologies supports the UK’s ambition to establish a Hybrid Navy, combining traditional crewed platforms with autonomous and uncrewed systems. By integrating advanced sensing capabilities with collaborative control systems, the AUKUS partners aim to improve their ability to detect underwater threats, safeguard critical infrastructure and strengthen maritime deterrence.

As development progresses towards the planned 2027 availability, the programme will further establish British industry as a key contributor to allied undersea innovation, while reinforcing the strategic partnership between Australia, the UK and the United States.