Australia reveals Ghost Shark submarine can launch drones and lay sea mines
Australia unveiled payload options for its Ghost Shark uncrewed submarine, including the ability to deploy sea mines, Altius aerial drones, and supply caches. Some capabilities will be tested at a U.S.-Australia-UK exercise.
What happened
On October 19, Australian Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy visited Anduril's Sydney factory to unveil new payloads for Ghost Shark, the extra-large uncrewed submarine that Anduril co-developed with Australia. The submarine can carry modular payloads including up to 12 sea mines for harbor defense, Anduril's Altius aerial drones for reconnaissance or strikes, and supply caches that can be left on the seabed. Conroy said the payload bays can also carry torpedoes and other undersea weapons. He stated: "Ghost Shark now has teeth and will have the ability to inflict damage on any potential adversary." The announcement was made as part of AUKUS Pillar II, a defense partnership among Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Some of these new capabilities will be tested during Exercise Maritime Big Play Pacific, an ongoing AUKUS Pillar II exercise near San Diego focused on developing common standards among the three nations' navies. The Australian government also announced that the Ocius Bluebottle unmanned surface vessel will be integrated with a towed-array sonar system for anti-submarine warfare.
Background
Anduril and Australia jointly developed Ghost Shark, an extra-large uncrewed underwater vehicle designed to operate autonomously for weeks. Australia signed a production contract for the system in September 2025 valued at approximately A$1.7 billion (about $1.2 billion USD) and received its first vehicle for testing in 2026. This is part of a broader A$5.8 billion Australian investment in autonomous undersea warfare over the next decade. The unveiling occurred at Anduril's Sydney factory, which opened in October 2025 to support Ghost Shark production and integration.
What to watch next
The payloads are expected to be tested during Exercise Maritime Big Play Pacific in San Diego through October 25. The Royal Australian Navy will continue integrating these capabilities into Ghost Shark for operational deployment. Australia has not ruled out offering the system to the United States and United Kingdom as part of AUKUS collaboration.
Sources
- Original report: Ghost Shark with teeth: Australia unveils underwater drone payloads (Breaking Defense, Oct 20, 2026) Defense media
- Taipei Times: Australia’s Ghost Shark sub grows some ‘teeth’ Other outlet
- France 24: Australia's new Ghost Shark submarines grow some 'teeth' Other outlet
- Breaking Defense: Ghost Shark with teeth: Australia unveils underwater drone payloads Defense media
- The War Zone: Ghost Shark Extra-Large Uncrewed Underwater Vehicles’ Payload Bay Seen For First Time Defense media
- The War Zone: Ghost Shark Uncrewed Submarine Shown Launching Aerial Drones For The First Time Defense media
- USNI News: Royal Australian Navy’s Ghost Shark UUVs Will Have Minelaying, UAV Payloads Defense media
- TWZ: Ghost Shark Extra-Large Uncrewed Underwater Vehicles’ Payload Bay Seen For First Time Defense media
- Asian Military Review: Australia revels in big unveil of Ghost Shark payloads Other outlet
- DroneXL: Anduril's Ghost Shark Drone Sub Gets 12 Sea Mines and Altius Swarms Other outlet
- Türkiye Today: Australia adds mines and drone swarms to its Ghost Shark submarine Other outlet
- Мілітарний: Australia’s Ghost Shark Underwater Drone to Carry Asteria Smart Mines and ALTIUS Kamikaze Drones Other outlet
- The SOFX Report: Anduril Video Shows Ghost Shark Robot Submarine Launching ALTIUS Attack Drone Other outlet
Written by Anduril News with AI assistance from the original report and other coverage, in plain English. It can contain mistakes; check the original for anything important. How we write these.
