A US Jeep leads two US Raptors during a Trusted Operation of Robotic Vehicles in a Contested Environment (TORVICE) trial. (Photo via the Australian Department of Defence)
WASHINGTON — Defense officials announced today they completed a trial under the AUKUS security agreement involving the use of autonomous ground robotics while operating in a “congested electronic warfare environment.”
The trial, dubbed the Trusted Operation of Robotic Vehicles in a Contested Environment (TORVICE), took place in the fall of 2023 in South Australia and was designed to observe how autonomous ground vehicles would react while under attack from EW weapons, according to a statement from the American embassy in Australia. The US Army and Australian defense officials have previously cooperated on efforts related to TORVICE, but the latest trial was conducted under the umbrella of the AUKUS agreement.
“A network of robotic ground vehicles from the United Kingdom and the United States were configured to represent autonomous Multi-Domain Launchers and Uncrewed Ground Vehicles conducting Long Range Precision Fires and associated missions. The vehicles carried no weapons during the trial,” according to the statement.
The statement does not elaborate further on the types of vehicles used during the trial.
The trial is the latest in a series of experimental efforts that the AUKUS nations — United States, United Kingdom and Australia — have been undertaking since the heads of governments unveiled what they called “the optimal pathway” in March 2023.
While the premiere effort associated with AUKUS is ultimately delivering Australia the infrastructure, workforce and Navy it needs to build and operate nuclear-powered submarines, the three countries’ heads of defense in December announced they would begin ramping up technology exchanges and experimentation efforts associated with AUKUS’ Pillar II.
RELATED: Transparent sea: AUKUS looks to AI, quantum in hunt for Chinese submarines
“This effort will consist of a series of integrated trilateral activities aiming to enhance capability development and improve interoperability,” a senior US defense official told reporters ahead of the December press conference in California. “Experiments and exercises will also provide opportunities for defense industry to participate in capability demonstrations, development and delivery.”
The first AUKUS autonomy trial took place in the United Kingdom in April 2023, according to a statement from the British government.
