Cutting edge autonomous maritime technology has been showcased during secretive AUKUS exercises on the NSW south coast, with US Defence officials signalling Japan could soon be involved in the experimental maritime activity.
Military personnel from Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom have for the past three weeks participated in the tri-lateral Autonomous Warrior 2024 exercises around the Naval Base HMAS Cresswell in Jervis Bay.
The activity is a key part of AUKUS pillar two endeavours, which involve joint development of emerging military technologies that harness aspects such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing and autonomy.
The ABC can reveal several Japanese officials have also attended the event as "observers" ahead of a likely invitation for the nation to formally participate in the event next time.
"We had them come as observers to this exercise and among our four nations there was a priority that we look forward to expanding and deepening our cooperation going forward," a senior US Defence official said.
"The planning for the next exercise is underway so the full details of what their participation will be in the future hasn't yet been determined.
"But I think they will move from being an observer to being a participant in the activity".
The Bluebottle is an autonomous vessel that runs on wind and solar power. (ABC Illawarra: Tim Fernandez)
AUKUS pact could eventually include Japan for pillar two
There has been growing speculation about Japan eventually being the first nation to be invited by the US, UK and Australia to join AUKUS pillar two for certain advanced defence technology projects.
A senior US Defence official confirmed to the ABC that Japan had been invited to the exercises as observers but next year the country could possibly be a participant.
"We look forward to expanding and deepening our cooperation going forward," the Pentagon representative said on Thursday.
"What a 'participant' means could be bringing Japanese systems and platforms, participating in that command-and-control architecture — there's a wide range of opportunities and we're really eager to explore those," the official said.
"Japan offers a unique opportunity as one of our key partners in the region to add to that capability mix so that's what we're looking for, for Japan to be part of that experimentation going forward but also part of the collaboration."
The exercises were a chance to test the compatibility of each of the countries' military systems. (ABC Illawarra: Tim Fernandez)
Another Pentagon official involved in the activity highlighted how "Japan has a deep industrial base in autonomous and robotic systems" which could be used in future exercises with AUKUS partners.
Allies test compatibility
Autonomous Warrior is part of the Maritime Big Game series of exercises, where AUKUS partners tested and demonstrated advanced autonomous systems.
Australian autonomous vessels developed by the Australian Defence Force were on display during the event, including the wind and solar powered scouting vessel, the Bluebottle, and the large underwater long-range payload delivery vessel, the Speartooth.
The Ghost Shark unmanned submarine was on display. ( ABC Illawarra: Tim Fernandez)
Allies were also shown a prototype of the extra-large autonomous submarine known as the Ghost Shark which was completed in April.
Department of Defence first assistant secretary of advanced capabilities, Steven Moore, said AUKUS was about getting the technology "in the hands of our defence forces as quickly as it can".
The US military tested a range of new technologies, including autonomous sea vessels and aircraft such as a high-altitude balloon, which was launched from the Beecroft Weapons Range.
One of the main objectives of the exercises was to demonstrate interoperability of the different military systems.
It was the first time AUKUS partners had tested tactical control capability — the capacity for Australia, the US or the UK to control one of their allies' autonomous vehicles remotely.
John Pitt says the exercises are a chance to find issues with the new technology. (ABC Illawarra: Tim Fernandez)
US Defence research and engineering operations lead John Pitt said the exercises were a chance to test the limits of new technology.
"We are trying to understand the edges of the technology and take it to failure so we can improve it and continue to evolve that technology," he said.
"There have been some challenges that we have overcome."
A US official said the operation was a chance to keep across the latest developments in the rapidly advancing space.
"We know globally our adversaries and our allies are developing autonomous systems and we definitely don't want to be left behind," the American official said.
"We do want to be able to counter their technology with effective technology ourselves."