Australia Arms Anduril's Ghost Shark With 12 Sea Mines and Altius Drone Swarms
Canberra declassified payloads that take its autonomous submarine from surveillance into mining and strike, and is offering them to the US and UK under AUKUS.
Canberra declassified payloads that take its autonomous submarine from surveillance into mining and strike, and is offering them to the US and UK under AUKUS.
Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy unveiled three previously classified payloads for Anduril's Ghost Shark extra-large autonomous submarine on Oct. 19 at Anduril Australia's Sydney factory. "Those Ghost Sharks now have teeth," he said.
The vehicle can carry up to 12 sea mines a mission, which Defence says can quickly close access to critical waterways. Ghost Shark will lay mines "at significantly lower cost and risk than using a surface ship or crewed asset," Anduril Australia CEO David Goodrich said.
Frequently Asked Questions
What payloads did Australia reveal for Ghost Shark?
Up to 12 sea mines a mission, swarms of tube-launched Altius drones for reconnaissance and strike, and seabed logistics caches, Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy said on Oct. 19.
How many Ghost Sharks is Australia buying?
Conroy would only say "dozens and dozens." Australia signed an A$1.7 billion production contract in September 2025 and received its first vehicle in January.
Has Ghost Shark launched an Altius drone underwater?
Nothing released at the Oct. 19 event showed an Altius leaving a submerged Ghost Shark, DroneXL noted.
Are the US and UK buying Ghost Shark?
Neither navy has committed to the vehicle, Conroy said. Under AUKUS Pillar II, Australia is offering the payloads, with each partner using its own platforms.
Where will the payloads be tested next?
Some of them go into Maritime Big Play Pacific, an AUKUS exercise off San Diego that runs through Oct. 25, according to Defence.
AI-generated summary, reviewed by an editor. More on our AI guidelines.
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Marcus Schuler
Marcus Schuler edits BattlePolicy, a daily defense-technology brief connecting the companies and capabilities behind modern war to the contest among Europe, the US, Russia, and China.