Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States (AUKUS) successfully completed tests of several autonomous and networked systems during Autonomous Warrior 24, a three-week series of maritime experiments and exercises, in Australia.
“AUKUS partners have long histories of working together on defense and security issues, and have deep, enduring partnerships based on shared values,” said Heidi Shyu, U.S. Department of Defense under secretary of defense for research and engineering. “By investing in novel and innovative capabilities directly aligned to AUKUS mission priorities, as well as making future advancements in emerging technologies like AI and Quantum, we support a more stable region — one where all nations are empowered to make their own sovereign decisions free from coercion — a world that centers on hope for the opportunity and prosperity of the future.”
The tested technologies include low-cost attritable unmanned surface vehicles, multi-model autonomous underwater and surface vessels, and software-defined acoustic modems. A gondola that can support operations in the upper stratosphere with minimum manpower or logistics requirements also was tested as were high-altitude balloons that provide resilient communications in denied environments from the stratosphere.
Software tested includes a software-defined network architecture that enables seamless communication and coordination across diverse unmanned systems and operational environments. The Common Control System was also featured in the exercise, built on an open architecture to provide uncrewed vehicles hardware and software that works across several different systems. Officials said that effort supports future work to create an AUKUS-wide Common Control System, incorporating the best elements of the three countries’ existing systems.