UK Defence Minister Luke Pollard hosts Australia Minister Pat Conroy for major AUKUS industry talks in London

There was no dramatic handshake moment or flashy signing ceremony, but the meeting between Britain and Australia this week carried serious strategic weight. On 23 February, Luke Pollard hosted Pat Conroy in the UK for the revived Australia–UK Defence Industry Dialogue.

It marked the formal restart of a forum that had gone quiet after last year’s ministerial talks. Now it’s back — and this time, it’s laser-focused on industry muscle, supply chains, and making the AUKUS partnership actually work in factories and shipyards, not just on paper.

Behind the polite diplomatic language was a clear message. The global security climate is getting rougher, and both governments believe they need tighter industrial coordination to keep up.

Why AUKUS Sits at the Centre of It All

Everything circles back to AUKUS — the trilateral security pact between the UK, Australia and the United States announced in 2021. While much of the public attention has focused on submarines, AUKUS is actually split into two “pillars.”

Pillar I covers the development of conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines. Pillar II pushes cooperation on advanced capabilities such as artificial intelligence, quantum systems, cyber tools and hypersonic technologies.

Both ministers described AUKUS as “generational.” That’s not just rhetoric. The submarine timeline alone stretches decades into the future, reshaping naval capability in the Indo-Pacific and reinforcing deterrence against China’s growing naval power.

Radar, Drones and Directed Energy

Beyond submarines, the dialogue zeroed in on practical tech collaboration. Progress has been made on Active Electronically Scanned Array radar systems — the kind of advanced radar that can track multiple targets simultaneously and is critical for modern fighter aircraft. Australia has developed strong domestic expertise here, and Britain is exploring how that capability could fit into its own systems.

The UK has also been invited to observe MQ-28A Ghost Bat drone testing in Australia later this year. The uncrewed aircraft, developed by Boeing Australia, is designed to fly alongside crewed fighter jets as a “loyal wingman,” extending range and firepower.

Ministers also committed to deeper work on directed-energy weapons — think high-energy lasers — and on software-enabled planning systems that allow forces to coordinate more effectively in real time. The UK has already tested laser weapons under its DragonFire programme, while Australia has expanded its investment in autonomous systems and AI-enabled defence tools.

Submarines and the Steel Behind Them

Submarine industrial integration was a major theme. The recent arrival of HMS Anson in Perth was highlighted as a milestone. The deployment supports future UK submarine rotations under what’s known as Submarine Rotational Force-West, a stepping stone toward Australia eventually operating its own nuclear-powered fleet.

There’s also movement behind the scenes. Australian personnel are embedded at the BAE Systems shipyard in Barrow, learning the ropes of submarine construction. Around 1,000 Australians are being trained by the Royal Navy as part of the long-term workforce build-up.

Steel supply chains were specifically mentioned. Submarines demand specialist steel with unique durability and acoustic properties. Both countries agreed to look at ways of strengthening their steel industries to ensure sovereign capability — a lesson many Western nations learned painfully during pandemic-era supply shocks.

Supply Chains, Minerals and Munitions

The conversation wasn’t limited to submarines. Energetics — the explosive materials that power munitions — are in tight global supply. Ukraine’s war has dramatically increased demand for artillery shells and missile systems, exposing bottlenecks across NATO countries.

Australia, rich in critical minerals such as lithium, rare earth elements and cobalt, is positioning itself as a secure supplier for advanced defence technologies. Britain is keen to diversify away from reliance on China for critical materials. Expect more joint research and tighter coordination in that space.

Both sides also want to reduce friction in defence trade — easing mobility rules, streamlining security clearances, and aligning cyber standards. It sounds bureaucratic, but industry executives have long complained that red tape slows down joint projects more than technical challenges do.

Ukraine Still Shapes the Agenda

The ministers reaffirmed support for Ukraine’s defence against Russia. Australia signalled willingness to allow UK weapons testing at Australian ranges, particularly for long-range systems.

The war in Ukraine has become a live laboratory for modern warfare — drone swarms, electronic warfare, precision artillery. Lessons learned there are feeding directly into AUKUS Pillar II capability development.

Impact and Consequences

This dialogue matters because defence cooperation is shifting from political symbolism to industrial execution.

Stronger UK-Australia integration could:

• Accelerate submarine production timelines.

• Create thousands of skilled jobs in shipbuilding, engineering and advanced manufacturing.

• Strengthen Western supply chains in critical minerals and munitions.

• Signal to adversaries that AUKUS is operationally serious, not just diplomatic theatre.

It also tightens the strategic bond between two Indo-Pacific-focused democracies at a time when China’s naval expansion and Russia’s war in Europe are reshaping global security assumptions.

What’s Next?

Expect more technical exchanges and trade missions in the coming months, including industry events in London, Adelaide and Perth.

The real test will be whether governments can deliver practical reforms — especially around security clearances and cross-border industrial cooperation. If that red tape isn’t trimmed, ambitious capability plans could stall.

Meanwhile, submarine production schedules, workforce training pipelines, and advanced capability trials will quietly continue behind closed hangar doors and inside secure shipyards.

Summary

The revived Australia–UK Defence Industry Dialogue signals a shift from talk to build. Submarines remain the flagship project, but radar systems, drones, lasers and supply chains are equally central to the long game.

In an increasingly unstable world, both nations are betting that deeper industrial integration is the surest path to credible deterrence.

Bulleted Takeaways

• UK and Australia formally revived their defence industry dialogue on 23 February 2026.

• Submarine cooperation under AUKUS Pillar I remains a cornerstone priority.

• Advanced radar, drones and directed-energy weapons feature prominently in joint plans.

• Both nations aim to strengthen steel, munitions and critical mineral supply chains.

• Ukraine’s war continues to shape defence innovation and weapons testing.

• Industrial reform and reduced red tape will determine how fast these ambitions become reality.