Australia and Japan sign undersea-warfare-research agreement

Australia and Japan have signed an agreement to enhance strategic capabilities in robotic and autonomous systems for undersea warfare.

FILE PHOTO: HMAS Huon deploys an underwater sensor. Photo by Able Seaman Casey Buurveld.

The research project between Defence Science and Technology Group and Japan’s Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency is the first under a bilateral research, development, test and evaluation (RDT&E) arrangement signed in June 2023.

The inaugural research project will contribute to strategic capabilities in undersea communication and interoperability between Australia and Japan.

Both countries share an increasingly strong Defence science and technology relationship underpinned by the Special Strategic Partnership and the updated Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation, signed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and is counterpart Kishida Fumio in 2022.

Chief Defence Scientist Tanya Monro said this first collaborative research project conducted under the bilateral RDT&E arrangement signed with Japan last year illustrated the increasingly strong Defence science and technology relationship shared by Australia and Japan.

“Maintaining a technological edge in our rapidly changing strategic environment is vital,” Professor Monro said.

“This project will build a foundation for future joint research on robotic and collaborative autonomy, aiming to deliver advanced capabilities to support asymmetric advantage.

“By partnering, we deliver science and technology outcomes that we cannot achieve alone.”

 

 

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