Australia's Ghost Shark Subs Unleash Mine & Drone Swarms

Australia's new fleet of robotic submarines, named Ghost Shark, is set to significantly transform undersea warfare capabilities. These advanced vessels are designed to secretly deploy up to 12 sea mines, launch swarms of aerial drones, and deliver military supplies to special forces behind enemy lines. Operating thousands of kilometres from shore, they promise to give Australia the ability to threaten enemy warships and strike distant targets without putting sailors at risk.

This development is a key part of a substantial $5.8 billion investment in autonomous underwater warfare over the next decade. The Ghost Shark submarines, manufactured in Sydney by Anduril under a $1.7 billion contract, represent a major step forward for AUKUS Pillar II, the technology-sharing component of the trilateral security pact.

Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy revealed three previously secret payloads for the Ghost Shark: naval mines, armed aerial drones, and underwater caches of military equipment. The submarines can also deposit equipment for retrieval, potentially supporting special forces in hostile territory. The program has advanced rapidly, moving from initial development to large-scale production in just three years, with the first production submarine already delivered to the Australian Navy.