AUKUS countries look to Pillar 2 as Pillar 1 progresses
Concept of potential AUKUS SSN. (Image: Crown Copyright)
Australia, UK and US to collaborate on maritime autonomy, AI, cyber, hypersonics, quantum and undersea warfare, as Australian officers graduate from US Nuclear Power School.
The Australia-UK-US (AUKUS) agreement has moved into the Pillar 2 phase while Pillar 1, largely focused on nuclear submarine capability, continues to move forward with a particular focus on the new nuclear submarine capability being delivered to Australia.
At a tri-national press conference on 1 December, US secretary of defence Lloyd J Austin, Australia minister of defence Richard Marles and UK secretary of state for defence Grant Shapps outlined the next stage of plans and ongoing efforts.
At the press conference it was highlighted that six Royal Australian Navy officers had already graduated from US Nuclear Power School, with the
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