Connecting the AUKUS Nations
Building the Alliance Across Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States
Connecting the AUKUS Nations
Building the Alliance Across Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States
AUKUS | The Future of Allied Defence Cooperation
AUKUS Connect | Uniting Industry, Innovation and Capability
AUKUS Connect, led by industry specialist Michael Sharpe, is a flagship initiative of the AUKUS Forum, bringing together leaders from defence industry, government, academia, research and advanced technology sectors across the three AUKUS nations.
The initiative provides a platform for strategic engagement, practical collaboration and industry-led dialogue focused on ensuring the long-term success of AUKUS while identifying the significant opportunities emerging across defence, advanced manufacturing, nuclear stewardship, workforce development and next-generation technologies.
With active engagement across the United Kingdom, Australia and the United States, AUKUS Forum connects industrial leaders, innovators and institutions from shipyards and manufacturing centres to research laboratories and emerging technology clusters — building trusted partnerships that strengthen allied capability and support a more integrated transnational industrial base.
AUKUS Partnership
AUKUS brings together the United Kingdom, Australia and the United States in a long-term strategic partnership focused on strengthening allied security, industrial capability and advanced technology cooperation.
More than a defence agreement, AUKUS represents a major step forward in how the three nations collaborate across shipbuilding, advanced manufacturing, research, workforce development, nuclear stewardship and next-generation technologies.
The partnership is designed to deepen industrial integration, expand sovereign capability and support the development of critical technologies that will shape the future strategic environment for decades to come.
Understanding AUKUS
AUKUS is built around two core areas of cooperation.
Pillar I | Nuclear-Powered Submarine Capability
Pillar I supports the development of a new generation of AUKUS Class nuclear-powered submarines while expanding the industrial, workforce and infrastructure capacity of all three partner nations.
This includes collaboration across submarine design, naval shipbuilding, supply chains, training, engineering and long-term sustainment.
Pillar II | Advanced Technologies
Pillar II focuses on accelerating cooperation in advanced defence and strategic technologies, including:
- artificial intelligence
- autonomous and robotic systems
- quantum technologies
- cyber and secure communications
- undersea systems
- advanced manufacturing
- electronic warfare and sensing
- hypersonic and counter-hypersonic technologies
Together, the two pillars represent a significant opportunity to strengthen allied capability, support industrial growth and accelerate innovation across the United Kingdom, Australia and the United States.
The Role of AUKUS Connect
AUKUS Connect serves as a practical industry engagement platform supporting collaboration across the AUKUS nations.
Led by industry specialist Michael Sharpe, AUKUS Connect works closely with manufacturers, research institutions, technology firms, universities, government agencies and regional industry groups to help organisations better understand and engage with emerging opportunities connected to AUKUS.
With extensive experience working directly with industry across the United Kingdom, Australia and the United States, AUKUS Connect helps build meaningful partnerships between local capability providers and major international programs.
The focus is on creating practical pathways for collaboration, strengthening industrial participation and supporting the growth of a more connected allied industrial base.
What AUKUS Connect Delivers
Industry Engagement
Programs designed to help businesses understand the evolving requirements, opportunities and industrial pathways emerging across AUKUS-related activities.
Supply Chain Readiness
Workshops and engagement sessions supporting companies preparing to participate in advanced manufacturing, defence and technology supply chains.
International Forums and Networking
Events, leadership discussions and roundtables connecting industry, research organisations, innovators and policymakers across the three nations.
Capability and Technology Briefings
Insights into developments in advanced engineering, digital manufacturing, workforce capability, emerging technologies and industrial transformation.
Delegations and Trade Missions
Coordinated industry visits designed to strengthen direct relationships between manufacturers, technology providers, researchers and government stakeholders.
Manufacturing and Innovation Tours
Visits to shipyards, advanced manufacturing facilities, research centres and regional industrial hubs throughout the United Kingdom, Australia and the United States.
Workforce and Skills Development
Support for partnerships focused on training, engineering capability, technical skills and the future workforce required to sustain advanced industrial and defence programs.
Latest AUKUS NEWS
AUKUS Forum
Engaging Across the AUKUS Alliance
AUKUS Connect creates opportunities for organisations to participate in one of the most significant industrial and technology partnerships emerging across the allied nations.
Through direct engagement across the United Kingdom, Australia and the United States, the initiative helps connect industry, research and government stakeholders with practical collaboration opportunities linked to advanced manufacturing, defence capability, workforce development and emerging technologies.
Participation includes:
- leadership forums and strategic discussions
- industry and technology briefings
- international delegation programs
- factory and innovation precinct visits
- supply-chain engagement activities
- workforce and skills partnerships
- collaborative networking across the three nations
The emphasis is on creating long-term relationships, strengthening industrial capability and supporting greater cooperation across the wider AUKUS community.
