Story perspectives

Australia Approves Ghost Shark Drone Swarm Payloads Under AUKUS

By Drooid · Oct 19, 2026, 7:58 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Australia is fitting Ghost Shark autonomous submarines with aerial drone swarms and sea mines.
Anduril Industries co-developed the Ghost Shark with Australian scientists under an A$1.8 billion contract.
Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy approved three payloads after secret trials, enabling missions humans cannot perform.
Australia will share Ghost Shark payloads with the US and UK under AUKUS Pillar Two technology-sharing.

History

Historical Context

In April 2016 DARPA launched the ACTUV program, commissioning the 132-foot autonomous trimaran Sea Hunter, a $20 million prototype that proved a 70-day transoceanic endurance in Pacific trials. Its success showed unmanned platforms could patrol for months, shaping Australia’s Ghost Shark submarine project, co-developed by Anduril and approved by Defence Minister Pat Conroy under AUKUS Pillar Two.

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Story summary

Australia is fitting Ghost Shark autonomous submarines with aerial drone swarms and sea mines.
Anduril Industries co-developed the Ghost Shark with Australian scientists under an A$1.8 billion contract.
Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy approved three payloads after secret trials, enabling missions humans cannot perform.
Australia will share Ghost Shark payloads with the US and UK under AUKUS Pillar Two technology-sharing.

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