UK and US AI Defence: The UK and US are starting a new defence partnership that will focus on artificial intelligence and autonomous military systems. The announcement comes after a major underwater test in which an uncrewed submarine launched a heavyweight torpedo for the first time for both countries.
The new partnership will bring together the UK Ministry of Defence’s Rapid AI Delivery Taskforce and the US Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office. The two sides will work on defence systems that can work together across both countries.
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The first work will focus on protecting important infrastructure such as sea routes and airspace. The UK government says AI could help military forces find threats faster and improve deterrence. The project will also build on technology work already being done through AUKUS, the security partnership between Australia, the UK and US.
Excalibur Underwater Drone Fires Heavyweight Torpedo
A key part of the announcement was the successful test of Excalibur. It’s a 12-metre uncrewed underwater vehicle made in Plymouth. The trial took place in UK waters last week as part of AUKUS work.
Excalibur launched a heavyweight torpedo that was jointly developed by the US and Australia. The UK government said the test was the first time either the UK or US had fired a torpedo from an uncrewed underwater vessel instead of using a crewed submarine.
The vehicle is being used as a test platform for future underwater technology. Excalibur was developed through Project Cetus and has already been used in other trials. In earlier AUKUS exercises, it was remotely controlled from Australia while operating in UK waters. The Royal Navy has described it as the largest uncrewed underwater vessel it has tested, measuring 12 metres and weighing about 19 tonnes.
The latest test also fits into wider AUKUS plans for uncrewed underwater vehicles. The three countries are working on payloads and systems that can be shared between their different underwater platforms. These could be used for surveillance, protecting seabed infrastructure and other naval missions.
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Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced the partnership while travelling to New York for the UN General Assembly. AI, the war in Ukraine and security issues in the Middle East are among the major topics being discussed during the visit.
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Burnham said “That ambition is underlined in our new defence partnership with the United States on AI and autonomy, bringing together the brightest minds to strengthen the protection of critical infrastructure, deter those who threaten our security, and use the enormous potential of AI to our advantage,”
The UK has been putting more focus on military AI and autonomous technology this year. Its Rapid AI Delivery Taskforce was created to speed up the use of AI and uncrewed systems by the armed forces. The government has also announced major investments in drones and autonomous weapons as part of its wider defence plans.
