In a move that should capture the attention of war risk insurers, Australia has committed $1.7 billion (US$1.1 billion) to building a fleet of “Ghost Shark” submarine drones, which can carry out surveillance, reconnaissance, and strikes at sea. Developed by US defence start-up Anduril and manufactured locally, the extra-large autonomous undersea vehicles are billed as the “highest tech capability in the world,” according to defence minister Richard Marles.
The first drones are expected to enter service in early 2026, with dozens planned over the next five years, Bloomberg reported. Officials say the investment will bolster Australia’s naval power as part of a wider push to deter regional threats.
Deputy prime minister Marles stated that Australia faced “the most complex, in some ways, the most threatening strategic landscape that we have had since the end of the Second World War.” He said the drones will work alongside the navy’s surface fleet and submarines, including nuclear-powered submarines to be acquired under the AUKUS agreement, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.
The announcement follows increased activity by China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy, including a naval flotilla that circumnavigated Australia in March and conducted live-fire exercises in the Tasman Strait.
The Ghost Shark is based on a 5.8-metre prototype weighing 2.7 tonnes. It can operate autonomously for up to 10 days at depths reaching 6000 m. According to defence industry minister Pat Conroy, the drones have the ability to conduct “intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance and strike at extremely long distances from the Australian continent.”
The contract with Anduril covers delivery, maintenance, and continued development of the drones over five years, Reuters reported.
The development of the Ghost Shark coincides with efforts to strengthen regional alliances. Australia and Papua New Guinea are preparing to sign a treaty pledging mutual defence support, while similar discussions are under way with Fiji.
Anduril said the drones mark “the start of a new era of sea power through maritime autonomy” and could be exported to allies in the future.
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