Japan and Australia cooperate on undersea warfare

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

The research project between Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG) and Japan’s Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency (ATLA) 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, according to a statement.

Australia and Japan share defence science and technology underpinned by the Special Strategic Partnership and the updated Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation signed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Kishida Fumio, Prime Minister of Japan, in 2022.

Chief Defence Scientist Professor Tanya Monro said that maintaining a technological edge in our rapidly changing strategic environment was vital.

“This is the first collaborative research project to be conducted as part of the bilateral research, development, test and evaluation arrangement I signed with my Japanese counterpart last year.

“It illustrates the increasingly strong defence science and technology relationship shared by Australia and Japan. By partnering we deliver science and technology outcomes that we cannot achieve alone.

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

Picture: Defence/Ben Winkler/Dr David Kershaw, DSTG Chief Science Strategic Planning and Matsumoto Kyosuke, Director General Technology Strategy, Japan’s ATLA