The US, UK and Australia have announced that they will develop underwater drone technology to protect communications cables laid on the seabed and increase defense capabilities. The project is being launched under the defense alliance \u2018OX\u2019 of the three countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The technology of unmanned underwater vehicles, or UUVs, is expected to be ready by next year. Although the total cost of the project was not disclosed, British Defense Secretary John Healey said that the UK will invest 150 million pounds in the project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The announcement was made by the defense ministers of the three countries during a security summit held in Singapore. The development comes at a time when the pace of various OX projects has been criticized for being slow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Acknowledging the criticism, Haley said, \u201cFor a long time, we talked a lot and delivered little, but now, under our three governments, that has changed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Axum defense pact, established in 2021, saw the United States, Britain and Australia agree to develop nuclear submarines and share military technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Experts say the alliance is seen as a significant step in the face of China\u2019s growing presence in the Pacific and Indian Oceans and rising tensions in disputed areas such as the South China Sea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The new UUV technology is the first major project under Axum\u2019s \u201cPillar Two,\u201d through which member states are working together on advanced defense capabilities including long-range hypersonic missiles, underwater robotics and artificial intelligence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to a joint statement from the three countries, the project will develop advanced payloads and support systems for underwater drones, which will be capable of protecting critical infrastructure on the seabed, conducting offensive operations, surveillance, reconnaissance and logistical operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
British Defense Minister John Haley added that advanced sensors and weapons systems will also be developed for underwater drones, which will \u201crapidly provide our forces with advanced combat technologies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said that this technology would also be helpful in dealing with the threats that \u201cpose on our underwater cables and pipelines, on which our daily lives depend.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to him, these measures will further strengthen the defense force in the Pacific, Atlantic and Arctic sea areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This announcement came at a time when a month ago John Haley accused Russia of carrying out covert activities against underwater cables and pipelines in the British North Sea. Moscow, however, has denied the allegations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On Saturday, the defense ministers of the three countries did not directly answer a question about whether the new UUV technology was being developed to counter the underwater activities of Russia and China.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The US, UK and Australia have announced that they will develop underwater drone technology to protect communications cables laid on the seabed and increase defense capabilities. The project is being launched under the defense alliance \u2018OX\u2019 of the three countries.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1957,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_themeisle_gutenberg_block_has_review":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[23],"tags":[358,350,357,61],"class_list":["post-1956","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-world","tag-australia","tag-uk","tag-underwater-drone","tag-us"],"yoast_head":"\n