Key Developments
On 9 November 2026, Australia's Department of Defence said Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States had completed the largest AUKUS Pillar II Maritime Big Play demonstration of interoperable maritime autonomous systems near San Diego. The Department of Defence said the event tested autonomous platforms in complex military scenarios and supported partner interoperability.
Key Statistics
- 3 AUKUS partner nations participated in the maritime autonomous systems demonstration.
- 3 weeks of trials were conducted near San Diego.
- Historical/comparative: 2 UKDI-funded companies demonstrated maritime technologies at Maritime Big Play.
- Historical/comparative: 14 days of NATO experimentation in Latvia tested emerging battlefield technologies.
Main Body
On 9 November 2026, Australia's Department of Defence announced that Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States had completed a three-week AUKUS Pillar II Maritime Big Play demonstration of interoperable maritime autonomous systems near San Diego. The Department of Defence described it as the largest such AUKUS demonstration to date.
The Department of Defence said the activity brought together autonomous maritime platforms in complex military scenarios to test integration among the three partners. The Department of Defence linked the exercise to AUKUS efforts to improve interoperability and operational capability in the Indo-Pacific.
The event followed related government activity around AUKUS innovation. On 3 November 2026, HM Government said two UK Defence Innovation-funded companies, SEA Ltd and DAS Ltd, had shown maritime technologies at Maritime Big Play in San Diego, including work tied to underwater communications and coordination among autonomous underwater vehicles. On 2 November 2026, NATO Allied Command Transformation said Allies and partners had completed a 14-day experiment in Latvia on digital connectivity, counter-drone systems and next-generation targeting.
The development mattered because the Department of Defence presented Maritime Big Play as a route to stronger combined maritime operations among AUKUS partners. HM Government also framed the event as a link between industry-backed innovation and AUKUS maritime security work, giving the trial practical significance for future capability development.
