Defence secretaries from the UK, US and Australia have announced a new AUKUS underwater drone programme.
UK defence chief, John Healey, said the project would provide “ground-breaking underwater capabilities”. However, the new UK’s underwater drone factory has deep links to the AI war firm, Palantir.
AUKUS is a three-nation defence programme between the two settler colonies and the UK. The alliance aims to “promote a free and open Indo-Pacific that is secure and stable”. In plain English, that means a US-dominated Indo-Pacific. The announcement was made in Singapore.
Healey said:
AUKUS is delivering for our security and for our economy. Together we are announcing ground-breaking underwater capabilities that will keep Britain safe, backing British businesses that are driving growth, and standing shoulder to shoulder with our closest allies.
This is what modern defence looks like. We’re stepping on the accelerator to develop cutting-edge tech to boost our collective deterrence and support our shared security.
Healey can be seen in this ABC video being jovial with US defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, best known for his far-right politics and tattoos.
Defence, ‘Hybrid Navy’ and the new war economy
The project is meant to start delivering by 2027. It is part of the so-called “Hybrid Navy” Navy strategy.
The first capabilities are expected to be in service by 2027 and will help drive the Royal Navy’s transition to a Hybrid Navy — a more flexible, modern force that blends crewed and uncrewed platforms.
Over the weekend in Singapore, the first ever AUKUS pillar 2 signature project was announced by @JohnHealey_MP.
The project will develop, produce and deploy cutting-edge technologies carried by uncrewed underwater vessels, helping to secure the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific. pic.twitter.com/QRht4Y1xOO
— Ministry of Defence
(@DefenceHQ) June 1, 2026
The government press release on the new project listed three UK based suppliers:
Decision Analysis Services Ltd., an SME based in Basingstoke
SEA Ltd., a large enterprise based in Frome
A-2i, a micro-consultancy based in Dorchester, Dorset
Decision Analysis Services’ products “span Systems Thinking, Programme & Portfolio Management, Investment Modelling, Complex Systems Engineering and AI & Data Analytics”.
We apply these skills to solve our clients’ most pressing challenges, designing and delivering pioneering, enduring solutions that drive meaningful outcomes.
In short, it is a small-scale war AI firm with serious defence interests.
Helsing is a much larger one. This new kid of the drone/AI block opened a UK underwater drone factory in November 2025. The Canary previously reported this about the firm:
They’ll be making unmanned submersible ‘gliders’. Powered by AI, the SG-1 Fathom will “deliver persistent underwater surveillance, detecting enemy activity to protect our sea lanes and undersea critical national infrastructure”.
As UK NGO Drone Wars told the Canary at the time:
Helsing is a new AI-focused military corporation, funded by Spotify’s Daniel Ek, and keen to gain a slice of the UK government’s promised £5 billion spending on drones, AI and other emerging technology.
Many of Helsing’s senior staff have links to Palantir and their marketing schtick is similarly ideological.
Protecting open, democratic societies is our civic duty and collective responsibility. Increasingly, this requires the development of advanced technologies like artificial intelligence to deter and defend.
Go figure…
Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s strategy is to militarise the economy. He is treating war spending like it is a key driver of growth. It isn’t.
Meanwhile the UK, US and Australia are working to make the ocean into a war zone. The UK and Australia technically both have ‘centre-left’ governments. But when it comes to war and empire, you can’t get a cigarette paper between them and the Trump administration.
‘Scratch a liberal, find a fascist’, as the old saying goes.
Featured image via Kin Cheung – WPA Pool/ Getty Images
By Joe Glenton
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