UK to Lead Three AUKUS UUV Payloads to Help Allied Underwater Drones Detect Undersea Threats

The United Kingdom will lead development of three payloads for Australian, British and US uncrewed underwater vehicles under the first AUKUS Pillar II signature project. The package comprises a Synthetic Aperture Sonar, a Deployable Anti-Submarine Warfare Sensor and a Deployable Non-Kinetic Effector, with availability planned from 2027. Announced after Maritime Big Play testing in San Diego, the equipment is intended to collect underwater information, detect and classify threats and support protection of undersea infrastructure. The work concerns interoperable payload development across allied fleets, with contractors, vehicle assignments and detailed performance specifications not identified in the announcement.