The Indo-Pacific is entering an age of autonomy. Uncrewed systems are transforming how nations project power, manage crises and sustain deterrence. For middle powers such as South Korea and Australia, the spread of autonomous defence technologies offers both an opportunity and a challenge: to innovate and cooperate before the technological frontier is dominated by major powers. Autonomous systems are redrawing the strategic map. China is investing heavily in swarming drones, uncrewed underwater vehicles and AI-driven surveillance networks that compress decision cycles and complicate allied operations. The United States and its partners are responding with distributed, networked systems designed for resilience. In this new environment, middle powers with industrial agility and technological credibility can exert outsized influence—if they coordinate their innovation strategies.
Through cooperation, Australia and South Korea can lead in the age of autonomy | The Strategist
