Jakarta, IDM – Aukus is a form of cooperation in all fields of defence. From the start, the emphasis is on cooperation centered on Pillar I and II, “even though submarines receive more spotlights, simply because they use nuclear propulsion,” said Yohanes Sulaiman MA, PhD, international relations lecturer at Jenderal Achmad Yani University (Unjani).
Under the second pillar, the three parties vowed to work together to increase collective understanding of AI so that it can become an crucial support element in bolstering military strength. Additionally, AI is expected to help expedite the decision-making process based on more accurate analysis in dealing with complex threat environment.
“This (AI) trial demonstrates the military advantage of Aukus’ advanced capabilities, as we work in coalition to identify, track and counter potential adversaries from a greater distance and with greater speed,” UK Deputy Chief of Defense Staff Lt. Gen. Rob Magowan was quoted as saying on the website of the UK Ministry of Defence.
Countering China’s dominance
Tacitly, Aukus reflects efforts to counter Chinese influence in the Indo-Pacific region. Although this defense pact does not directly mention China, the measures taken such as the arrangement for Australia to acquire nuclear-powered submarines under Pillar I, are seen as a direct response to check China’s rapid naval expansion and growing assertiveness in the region.
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“Aukus is basically a framework, a cooperative trilater alliance to strengthen deterrence against China in the South China Sea or the Indo Pacific. Aukus is able to increase the capabilities of the founding members because, on their own, they do not have sufficient resources. So, basically, they came together because of the mutually beneficial objectives and shared interests,” added Yohanes.
Pillar II also has the same goal, to catch up with China’s military advances, especially in key technologies. Yohanes said although it had been determined since Aukus was formed, the three countries started to develop AI because they saw the rising popularity of this technology. “Now AI is the most popular field. So that’s why they [Aukus members] seek collaboration in this area.”
Unveiled in 2021, Aukus is a trilateral security pact between Australia, the UK and the US. The alliance comprises two pillars of cooperation agreements, known as Pillar I and II. The controversial Pillar I focuses on Australia’s acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines while Pillar II is more dynamic because it calls for collaboration to develop advanced capabilities on leading-edge technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI).
The Australian Department of Defense on its official website stated that Aukus took note of the rapid development of AI, including its potential use in defense. Thus, the joint exercise held in Salisbury Plains, UK, on April played a critical role in enhancing interoperability in a bid to maintain security and peace in the Indo-Pacific region.
“The delivery of Advanced Capabilities such as AI and autonomy enables Australia to maintain collective multi-domain awareness, operate seamlessly with partners, and enhance peace, security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific. In this trial, we demonstrated that Aukus can deliver a capability that is greater than what any one country can do alone,” the statement reads.
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Inaugural exercise in AI
Aukus held its first ever joint trial in April which saw the deployment of AI-enabled platforms for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions. The equipment included the Blue Bear Ghost and Insitu CT220 drones; Challenger 2 main battle tank; Warrior tracked armored vehicle, Viking Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV), FV433 Abbot self-propelled artillery; and BMP OT-90 infantry fighting vehicle.
With regard to the exercise, Aukus issued a joint statement: “This is the first instance of jointly developed Australian, UK and US AI capability being deployed on coalition autonomous systems for an Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) mission as part of Pillar II.” Magowan also emphasized that the military exercise marked the first step for Aukus to develop AI-based applications which would provide substantial military advantage, especially in dealing with complex threats on the ground.
“Accelerating technological advances will deliver the operational advantages needed to defeat current and future threats across the battlespace. We are committed to collaborating with partners to ensure that we achieve this while also promoting the responsible development and deployment of AI,” added Magowan.
Challenges Aukus needs to be aware of
The success of Aukus in overcoming regional threats and strengthening peace and stability in the region will depend on the member countries. The coordination and implementation of this security partnership will be a major challenge that should be watched for, especially in maintaining the consistency and transparency of communication when faced with obstacles. Furthermore, the complexity in applying AI technology to weapon systems can have negative impacts if there are no clear frameworks and boundaries. The three countries should be able to manage this effectively through proper coordination.
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In addition, the military application of AI is still in its relative infancy and Aukus should pay more attention to the development and implementation of this nascent technology. Currently, there is a lively debate on the rise of AI with many warning that it poses profound, even existential, risks to humanity. According to Yohanes, while it is undeniable that the wider application of AI has sparked concerns and fear, its development has so far been restricted by a wide array of parameters designed to mitigate the inherent dangers.
“Basically, there are rules and parameters that govern its capabilities. Indeed, right now, the development of AI for military purpose is still very new. It is necessary to ascertain the extent to which this technology can be maintained so that it is capable of attacking the enemy but not turning against their creator because they can think independently. That’s the issue at the heart of current debate. However, in my opinion, that scenario is a bit too exaggerated,” he said.
Eventually, Aukus must be able to address the challenges posed by the emergence of AI and continues to flexibly adapt and respond to the changing threat dynamics. (Bunga Permata)