The AUKUS partnership, consisting of Australia, the U.K., and the U.S., recently participated in the “Maritime Big Play” series of integrated experiments and exercises in the Indo-Pacific region. The goal of these activities was to enhance capability development and improve interoperability between the partner nations. The partners tested and refined their ability to jointly operate uncrewed maritime systems, share and process naval data, and provide real-time maritime domain awareness to support decision-making. This was done in an effort to expand the reach, capability, and capacity of their forces in the maritime environment through the use of artificial intelligence and autonomous systems.
Various private sector companies brought forth technologies and equipment that could be evaluated by all three nations as part of scenarios created for the event. These included autonomous air, surface, and sub-surface vessels, balloons, and networking systems. The testing and experimentation were driven by specific scenarios, such as the need to use a mix of uncrewed and crewed assets for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance to maintain a common operating picture. An important aspect of the evaluation was ensuring interoperability, as partners need to be able to integrate new capabilities into existing systems without significant delays.
The Maritime Big Play event allowed AUKUS partner nations to practice fielding and maintaining uncrewed systems, gain experience operating in coalitions, and solve operational problems such as improving undersea situational awareness. The partners are also investing in their industrial bases to make their supply chains more resilient, integrated, and productive. The experiments and exercises conducted during the event aimed to improve interoperability of sensors and uncrewed systems and take advantage of economies of scale to reduce capability acquisition costs, maintenance costs, and training costs.
The AUKUS partnership has two pillars, the first of which involves delivering a conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarine capability to Australia. The second pillar focuses on enhancing joint capabilities and interoperability, which was a key aspect of the Maritime Big Play series of integrated experiments and exercises. Through these activities, the partner nations aim to improve their ability to work together effectively in the maritime environment and leverage the latest technologies and equipment to enhance their operational capabilities.
