On September 15, 2021, the leaders of Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States announced the AUKUS security partnership. In addition to Pillar 1 on nuclear-powered submarines, Pillar 2 committed the three nations to developing advanced military capabilities, with quantum technologies identified as one of six priority working areas.
An April 2022 White House fact sheet detailed that the AUKUS Quantum Arrangement (AQuA) would accelerate investments to deliver next-generation quantum capabilities, with an initial focus on quantum technologies for positioning, navigation, and timing. Seventeen trilateral working groups were established across both pillars.