Unmanned subs plans

Robot submarines and missiles boosted

AUSTRALIA will develop cutting-edge unmanned submarines and purchase upgraded missiles to boost the “agility and potency” of the navy’s warfighting capability as it maintains peace and stability in the Indo-pacific.

Defence Minister Peter Dutton will on Thursday announce a $2bn investment to acquire more advanced missiles and unveil the government’s plan to pursue autonomous robotic undersea warfare capability.

Last month, Mr Dutton warned the best way for Australia to preserve peace in an uncertain security environment was to “prepare for war”.

News Corp can reveal the Australian Defence Force and Anduril Australia will co-fund a program to design, develop and manufacture Extra Large Autonomous Undersea Vehicles (XLAUV) in Australia for capability assessment and prototyping. Under what Mr Dutton described as an “ambitious” build schedule, the government plans to produce three prototype large vessels over the next three years, resulting in a “manufacturing-ready” option.

“The vessels would also give the Australian Defence Force innovative mission options, while presenting a disruptive and difficult undersea problem for any adversary,” he said.

The US and UK are already well-advanced in their pursuit of similar un-crewed vessels, which Australia could use to bridge a capability gap until its nuclear-powered submarine fleet is built in the coming decades. The recent security pact signed between Beijing and the Solomon Islands has pushed national security to the fore of the federal election, amid fears China’s expansion in the Pacific poses a significant risk to Australian interests.

The XLAUVS, typically between 10m and 30m long, are stealthy and have the capacity to carry various military payloads over long distances.

“This capability would potentially complement and enhance the agility and potency of the navy’s current submarine and surface combatant force in maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-pacific region,” Mr Dutton said.

In a decision taken before the government entered caretaker mode for the election, the Coalition announced it was also investing more than $2bn in Evolved Sea Sparrow Missiles.