Australia is declassifying details of its “Ghost Shark” unmanned submarines, including plans for them to lay sea mines and launch armed aerial drones. The information describes an autonomous underwater capability intended to extend surveillance and strike options beyond shorelines.
Officials say the robots are designed to operate alongside Australia’s crewed submarine fleet, travelling long distances as part of broader undersea operations. Outlets also report that the program involves Australian defence scientists and a US defence technology start-up, Anduril, which jointly developed the extra-large underwater drone. Several reports frame the capability as part of a wider defence expansion, citing an approximately $5.8 billion allocation, and describe the systems in terms of “explosive swarms” and “hidden mines,” while the specific operational concepts and deployment timelines are presented as forthcoming rather than immediately confirmed.
