On March 26, 2024, the U.S. Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), Australia’s Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator (ASCA), and the U.K.’s Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) launched the first trilateral AUKUS innovation challenge. The Australian Department of Defence announcement stated that the challenge sought innovative solutions to shared electronic warfare problems from industry and research institutions across all three countries.
Each nation ran a synchronized competition seeking electromagnetic spectrum technology solutions for both offensive and defensive purposes. Companies from all three AUKUS countries were eligible to participate in any of the three national challenges. Winners were to be selected through subject-matter expert evaluation, with shared access to the best solutions across all three national programs.
While the initial challenge focused on electronic warfare rather than quantum technologies directly, ASCA’s six priority areas include quantum technology alongside hypersonics, trusted autonomy, and information warfare. The challenge mechanism was announced at the December 2023 AUKUS defense ministers meeting as a new model for trilateral Pillar II capability development.