The Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator launched the Australian component of the AUKUS (Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States) Maritime Innovation Challenge 2025 in March 2025. The Challenge was in partnership with the United Kingdom’s Defence Innovation and United States’ Defense Innovation Unit.

The AUKUS Maritime Innovation Challenge seeks innovative solutions from industry and research institutions around the world.

Milestones

The Challenge aims to provide capability with a focus on undersea communications and control of autonomous systems.The Challenge aims to provide capability with a focus on undersea communications and control of autonomous systems.

In July 2026, ASCA announced it had entered into contract with 3 Australian-based companies, BAE Systems Australia, L3Harris Integrated Mission Systems Australia Pty Ltd and Mission Systems Pty Ltd, worth a combined $6.2 million (excluding GST).

The contracts will support the development of communication capabilities between undersea vehicles and command and control battle management systems.

The capabilities being developed through the challenge will support interoperability between AUKUS partners and their uncrewed undersea vehicles as part of the AUKUS Pillar II Signature Project.

These technologies will be demonstrated by the end of 2026

Background

The Expression of Interest opened on 31 March 2025, through AusTender – AUKUS Maritime Challenge 2025 and closed on 28 April 2025.

A virtual market briefing for industry and academia occurred on 3 April 2025.