In a major growth for maritime safety, the USA, Australia, and the UK (AUKUS) have accomplished profitable exams of a number of autonomous and networked techniques throughout a three-week maritime experimentation known as Autonomous Warrior 24 in Australia. The occasion was a part of the Maritime Massive Play (MBP) initiative and ongoing efforts to develop AUKUS Pillar II capabilities, a trilateral collaboration to enhance maritime consciousness by means of networked autonomy, determination benefit, and enhanced strike.
The Maritime Massive Play is a collection of built-in trilateral experiments and workouts which might be enhancing functionality growth, enhancing interoperability, and growing the sophistication and scale of autonomous techniques within the maritime area. Australia led the Autonomous Warrior occasion, the signature MBP occasion in 2024. Different occasions related to Maritime Massive Play included the Robotic Experimentation and Prototyping Augmented by Maritime Unmanned Methods (REPMUS); and Know-how Readiness Experimentation (T-REX).
By means of these experiments and workouts, AUKUS companions are additional testing and refining the flexibility to collectively function uncrewed maritime techniques, share and course of maritime information from all three nations, and supply real-time maritime area consciousness to assist decision-making.
“Autonomous Warrior/Maritime Massive Play creates a novel alternative for our three nations to work collectively, which can in the end enhance operational effectivity and permit us to work extra cohesively in opposition to frequent threats,” stated Heidi Shyu, Beneath Secretary of Protection for Analysis and Engineering. “This collaborative method allows us to scale back acquisition, upkeep, and coaching price by creating economies of scale.”
The applied sciences examined through the October occasion assist operations from deep below water to the sting of area. This included software-defined acoustic modems, multi-model autonomous underwater and floor vessels, and low-cost attritable unmanned floor autos. The exams additionally featured a low-cost gondola, which helps operations within the higher stratosphere with minimal manpower or logistics necessities, and T-200 high-altitude balloons, which give resilient communications in denied environments from the stratosphere.
A flexible and sturdy software-defined community structure known as Multi-Area Uncrewed Safe Built-in Communications (MUSIC) was examined for its potential to allow seamless communication and coordination throughout various unmanned techniques and operational environments. The Widespread Management System (CCS) was additionally featured within the train, constructed on an open structure to offer uncrewed autos {hardware} and software program that works throughout a number of completely different techniques. This effort helps future work to create an AUKUS-wide Widespread Management System, fusing greatest components of the three nations’ current techniques.
“AUKUS companions have lengthy histories of working collectively on protection and safety points, and have deep, enduring partnerships primarily based on shared values, stated Shyu. “By investing in novel and modern capabilities instantly aligned to AUKUS mission priorities, in addition to making future developments in rising applied sciences like AI and Quantum, we assist a extra secure area — one the place all nations are empowered to make their very own sovereign selections free from coercion — a world that facilities on hope for the chance and prosperity of the long run.”
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