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21 Jan 2025

AUKUS Allies Test AUVs In Joint Trials Off US Coast

AUKUS Allies Test AUVs In Joint Trials Off US Coast
The Royal Navy joined Australian and United States personnel in testing autonomous underwater equipment. Image: U.S. Navy

Underwater warfare (UW) experts from the Royal Navy have teamed up with their counterparts from the United States and Australia to test autonomous underwater vessels (AUVs).

The results of the trials will help inform the sub-sea and seabed warfare missions arranged as part of the  forthcoming Australian-based Exercise Talisman Sabre 25 later this year. 

As per a recent Royal Navy press statement, sailors from its Diving and Threat Exploitation Group and Mine and Threat Exploitation Group took part in the trials, which had been arranged under AUKUS Pillar 2, which develops advanced capabilities to benefit both Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic security. 

The experiments were conducted off Virginia Beach, close to Naval Station Norfolk, the headquarters and home port of the U.S. Navy's Fleet Forces Command. The largest naval complex in the world, it supports the operational readiness of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet.

During the trials, the sailors chartered Island Pride, a commercial boat from robotics company Ocean Infinity and deployed both commercially available and prototype assets to complete their mission, which tasked the three navies with locating, monitoring and removing seabed threats at varying depths.

Scenarios included monitoring and defending critical underwater infrastructure (CUI) such as gas pipelines and communication cables; salvaging lost equipment; and disarming or destroying mines and explosive objects. 

The teams used Hugin Superior AUVs for surveying and reconnaissance, and a Video Ray Defender remotely-operated vehicle (ROV) to identify or deal with the objects at depth.  

The trials were deemed a success, providing enhanced understanding of how data can be shared and interpreted by the three nations and how AUKUS partners can work together to protect CUI. 

Commodore Marcus Rose, Deputy Director Underwater Battlespace Capability, said the experiment had “further demonstrated the value of our joint endeavours in the underwater domain.”  

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