The last major development for AUKUS — the technology innovation alliance between the U.S., the U.K. and Australia — a month ago saw the U.S. State Department lifting the need for these two American partners to obtain licenses to buy the majority of weapons from the States, the largest global armaments producer. As of Friday, Reuters reported that the trilateral, multinational unit has achieved a new milestone: a capability to maneuver unmanned sea vessels from a distance of 10,000 miles.
“The successes experienced … show how close we are to realising [sic] our ambition of a genuine team of crewed and uncrewed systems, capable of operating and prevailing everywhere on the planet, from the seabed to space,” issued the British Royal Navy.
AUKUS is only going to gain in importance in the months and years to come. Lend an ear as top officials from these nations discuss the goals of the alliance and how they’re partnering with industry at Potomac Officers Club’s GovCon International Summit this Thursday, Oct. 10. The first-rate networking event will be held at the Hilton Alexandria Mark Center; don’t miss it!
AUKUS is calling this critical series of tests “Maritime Big Play,” and they have more planned for the remainder of the year. There will reportedly be a sweeping, 30-system exercise conducted with uncrewed ships in the Indo-Pacific before 2024 closes. Reuters said that the People’s Republic of China has decried AUKUS as being “dangerous” and harboring the potential to gin up a “regional arms race.”
This is probably all well and good for the AUKUS countries, who began the pact in order to steel themselves for the international great power competition by ensuring that Australia is equipped with a fleet of cutting-edge, nuclear-powered submarines.
“This was just the first step toward ensuring that Australia has a sovereign nuclear-powered submarine capability. We’re also making progress toward having a rotational presence of U.S. submarines by as early as 2027,” remarked Secretary of Defense and Wash100 Award winner Lloyd Austin. The top U.S. military official made the comment after meeting with U.K. Defense Secretary John Healey and Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles in London late last month.
The GovCon International Summit on Oct. 10 will tell you all you need to know about the future of AUKUS and the industrial base’s involvement in it. Come for the panel discussion “AUKUS Update: Strategies, Challenges & Tech Initiatives” and stay for a series of gripping keynote speeches and chances to dialogue with members of the federal government. Check out the full lineup and save a spot today.
