AUKUS (Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States) partners are developing capabilities in real-world environments – delivering benefits now and in the future.
Exercise Talisman Sabre
During Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025, AUKUS partners showcased a series of advanced technologies designed to strengthen collective defence capabilities under Pillar II.
One highlight was the deployment of subsea autonomous and remotely-operated uncrewed vehicles to conduct intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions. These efforts focused on improving Australia’s ability to protect critical underwater infrastructure.
In another activity, AUKUS partners deployed advanced artificial intelligence algorithms on an Australian P-8A Maritime Patrol aircraft for the first time. These algorithms collect and analyse undersea data from AUKUS nations’ sonobuoys, allowing military forces to locate and identify adversary submarines faster than human operators could alone.
Also at Talisman Sabre 2025, AUKUS partners put their latest cutting-edge Resilient Autonomy and Artificial Intelligence Technologies to the test on autonomous air, land, and maritime platforms to disrupt and delay an amphibious landing in the Shoalwater Bay Training Area. Under the direction of a military headquarters, personnel conducted simulated strike and intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance missions within a littoral environment, demonstrating the potential of autonomy artificial intelligence in future operations.
Maritime Big Play
The Maritime Big Play experimentation series continues to push the boundaries of interoperability and autonomous capability development among AUKUS partners. Through the series, AUKUS partners are testing and refining their ability to jointly operate uncrewed systems, share and process data, and provide real-time awareness in support of decision-making.
In October 2024, as part of Autonomous Warrior 2024, AUKUS partners took control of each other’s systems remotely. Autonomous systems operating near Jervis Bay, Australia, were remotely controlled from the United States and autonomous systems operating off the US coast were remotely controlled from Jervis Bay.
Building on this success, July 2025 saw another leap forward during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025. AUKUS partners and Japan enhanced their use of acoustic communications to task a large uncrewed underwater vehicle to conduct activities at sea.
In late 2025, Maritime Big Play brought together more than 200 personnel, scientists, and industry participants from Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States off Australia’s east coast. The exercise tested around 30 next-generation capabilities in a realistic tactical setting, working with industry to adapt their capabilities in demanding conditions.
Lessons learnt from these activities will drive interoperability; allowing the three militaries to communicate collectively with autonomous systems and use them together to deter threats in the Indo-Pacific.
Quantum clock trial
In June and July 2025, AUKUS partners came together at the Naval Research Lab in Washington D.C. to test and benchmark their leading quantum optical atomic clocks. Four Australian and 4 US clocks were compared as part of ongoing efforts to accelerate integration into defence platforms.
Quantum clocks deliver precision timing capabilities that have the potential to support advanced navigation. In the future, they may allow AUKUS partners to continue operating where Global Positioning System navigation is unreliable or unavailable. The outcomes of the clock trial will inform analysis of how quantum clocks may be used in future defence operations.
Hypersonics systems
November 2024 marked a significant step forward for AUKUS partners with the signing of the Hypersonic Flight Test and Experimentation (HyFliTE) Project Arrangement. This project represents a new level of collaboration among AUKUS partners, enabling shared use of testing facilities and pooling collective technical expertise to accelerate the development of hypersonic systems.
Through HyFliTE, AUKUS partners are accelerating the development and delivery of hypersonic capabilities for their militaries. In July 2025, AUKUS partners conducted the first test flight under HyFliTE, testing key equipment and de-risking future test flights. These flight tests will accelerate the development of hypersonic concepts and critical enabling technologies.
The development and delivery of hypersonic technologies is, and will continue to be, consistent with AUKUS partners’ respective international legal obligations and commitments.