# AUKUS Pillar II

Silent Predators: Japan’s Shift to Offensive Undersea Drones Signals the End of ‘Exclusive Defense’

Japan is developing long-range, offensive unmanned submarines to address maritime security challenges and domestic labor shortages. While presented as a defensive measure, the move is interpreted by regional analysts as a pivot toward offensive capabilities and deeper integration with U.S.-led security frameworks like AUKUS.