Joint Statement, AUKUS Defense Ministers' Meeting

View Online IMMEDIATE RELEASE Joint Statement, AUKUS Defense Ministers' Meeting May 30, 2026 Today the Honorable Richard Marles MP, Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defense, the Honorable Pete Hegseth, U.S. Secretary of War, and the Right Honorable John Healey MP, UK Secretary of State for Defense, met at the U.S. Embassy in Singapore and re-affirmed their commitment to delivering the AUKUS partnership. Pillar I – Conventionally-Armed, Nuclear-Powered Submarines Through discussions today, the Deputy Prime Minister and Secretaries confirmed that AUKUS Pillar I remains on track to support Australia's acquisition of a conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarine capability. The Deputy Prime Minister and Secretaries confirmed key milestones continue to be met for Submarine Rotational Force-West (SRF-West) and announced the finalization of necessary arrangements for the establishment of SRF-West in 2027. SRF-West will directly support submarine deployments by expanding maintenance options and sustainment infrastructure in the region and will accelerate Australia's readiness to own, operate, maintain, and regulate a sovereign conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarine capability. Just this month, the United States authorized establishment of the U.S. Navy support elements for SRF-West and will begin rotating the first U.S. Navy personnel to HMAS Stirling later this year. Likewise, the United Kingdom reaffirmed its commitment to have a rotational presence as part of SRF-West and noted the successful Submarine Maintenance Period conducted earlier this year by HMS ANSON. The Deputy Prime Minister and Secretaries acknowledged Australia's planned investments of up to AUD 8 billion at SRF-West for infrastructure and logistics support at HMAS Stirling, along with Australia's initial down payments of AUD 3.9 billion to deliver the new Submarine Construction Yard in South Australia and AUD 12 billion for the Henderson Defense Precinct—including to support the delivery of contingency docking and depot level maintenance capabilities. The Deputy Prime Minister and Secretaries welcomed the proposed approach to streamline Australia's acquisition of Virginia-class submarines (VCS), simplifying supply chain management, operational and maintenance requirements, and maximizing cost efficiencies. This approach would enable Australia to acquire three in-service VCS in lieu of a mixture of new and in-service VCS variants. The Deputy Prime Minister and Secretaries acknowledged significant progress in the design and delivery of SSN-AUKUS, which will provide the UK and Australia with an advanced warfighting capability. This progress has been underpinned by investments from both the UK and Australia, including GBP 6 billion that the UK committed in 2025. Pillar II – Advanced Capabilities The Deputy Prime Minister and Secretaries reaffirmed the critical importance of accelerating the delivery of advanced capabilities under AUKUS Pillar II.  They announced the first AUKUS Pillar II Signature Project: developing cutting-edge payloads and enabling systems for AUKUS partners' Uncrewed Undersea Vehicles (UUVs), with delivery starting in 2027. This project is intended to significantly enhance AUKUS partners' ability to protect critical national seabed infrastructure; deploy cutting edge surveillance, reconnaissance, and strike capabilities; conduct logistics operations; and bolster superiority in anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare, mine countermeasures, electronic warfare, and contested littoral maneuver.       Defense Trade and Industrial Base Collaboration The Deputy Prime Minister and Secretaries confirmed their support for expanding the breadth of the AUKUS license-free environment between AUKUS partners by taking expeditious and practical steps to narrow the list of excluded technologies. The Deputy Prime Minister and Secretaries also reaffirmed the value of the Advanced Capabilities Industry Forum and deepening collaboration across the trilateral defense industrial base.  Fact Sheet: AUKUS Pillar II Signature Project can be found at: https://media.defense.gov/2026/May/30/2003941945/-1/-1/1/FACT-SHEET-AUKUS-PILLAR-II-SIGNATURE-PROJECT.PDF

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Readout of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth's Meeting with Japanese Minister of Defense Shinjirō Koizumi

View Online IMMEDIATE RELEASE Readout of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth's Meeting with Japanese Minister of Defense Shinjirō Koizumi May 30, 2026 On May 30, Secretary Hegseth met with Japan's defense minister Shinjirō Koizumi in Singapore. The two leaders reaffirmed the critical role of the U.S.-Japan alliance in preserving peace in the Indo-Pacific. They discussed Japan's strategic documents review, as well as its efforts to rapidly enhance defense capabilities and to increase its defense spending. Secretary Hegseth and Minister Koizumi also discussed upcoming bilateral activities, which are part of a comprehensive effort to increase realistic training and exercises across Japan. The two leaders endorsed the upcoming temporary deployment of U.S. ground-based missile capabilities to a Japan Self-Defense Forces base, agreed to enhance flexible air dispersal access and practice, and committed to advance bilateral presence in the Southwest Islands. Furthermore, they affirmed the importance of continuing concrete, tangible trilateral cooperation with Australia and lauded the establishment of a trilateral air and missile defense data sharing framework among the three countries. Secretary Hegseth welcomed Japan's recent defense export policy changes that will strengthen its defense industrial base, and both leaders committed to continuing cooperation on defense industrial base matters, including on critical global munitions requirements. Secretary Hegseth and Minister Koizumi also discussed the importance of further increasing missile production to meet critical air defense requirements.

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44th Medical Brigade Integrates Drones Into Medical Resupply Operations

View Online 44th Medical Brigade Integrates Drones Into Medical Resupply Operations May 29, 2026 |  By Army Sgt. Brandon Hocson, XVIII Airborne Corps Public Affairs Soldiers assigned to the XVIII Airborne Corps' 44th Medical Brigade are expanding battlefield medical support capabilities by integrating unmanned aircraft systems into medical resupply operations. Army 1st Sgt. Fisamuel Reggans and Cpl. David Sanchez, both dental specialists assigned to the brigade's dental company area support element, recently graduated from the unmanned aircraft systems course at Clemson University's Drone Academy. The eight-week online program provided training in drone operations and expanded the unit's ability to support medical resupply missions during field training exercises and deployed operations. The program supports the Army's modernization efforts. It highlighted the need for medical units to adapt to sustain operations in contested and austere environments where traditional resupply methods may be delayed or restricted. Reggans said UASs provide the unit with the flexibility to quickly and effectively resupply soldiers, keeping them in the fight. He added that it also enhances soldier safety, allowing commanders to mitigate unnecessary risk. "We would rather send out a drone than a soldier," he said. The new capability allows medical personnel to rapidly transport critical supplies necessary for patient care and treatment while reducing the manpower and risk associated with traditional ground resupply methods. Unmanned systems can improve response times, extend operational reach and reduce exposure for soldiers operating in hazardous environments. The training also encouraged medical personnel to think beyond traditional medical roles and develop technical skills that support future battlefield operations. Reggans said one of the most valuable aspects of the course was learning how to operate the systems manually, providing additional flexibility if automated systems fail during operations. Sanchez said that with medical operations, there will always be a need for supplies. This capability not only makes resupply easier, but it also reduces delivery times. The graduates said unmanned systems can significantly improve continuity of care by delivering supplies more quickly and efficiently while reducing the need to place additional personnel in dangerous operational areas. The training also provided opportunities for collaboration across multiple warfighting functions while expanding operational knowledge beyond traditional medical specialties. Leaders within the brigade said emerging technologies, such as unmanned systems, will continue to play a growing role in future medical operations by improving speed, flexibility and survivability across the force.

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