Overview
- Defence ministers announced the signature Pillar Two project in Singapore on Saturday, May 30, 2026, and said the first payload capabilities are expected to be in service by 2027.
- The programme will develop interoperable UUV payloads—including sensors, weapons and command‑and‑control kits—that can be deployed across U.S., UK and Australian uncrewed undersea fleets to detect threats and protect undersea infrastructure.
- The ministers named the winners of the 2025 AUKUS Maritime Innovation Challenge who will share £3 million in funding to prototype and test systems, and they pledged further industry funding and steps to ease technology sharing between partners.
- As part of parallel Pillar One adjustments, the partners confirmed a streamlined plan for Australia to receive three in‑service Virginia‑class submarines and progress toward a Submarine Rotational Force‑West at HMAS Stirling with a U.S. rotation expected in 2027.
- Officials framed the package as an operational and industrial lift that will speed fielding of new tools, back domestic defence suppliers with contracts and infrastructure work, and deepen U.S.–UK–Australia integration to bolster collective deterrence.