Australia has disclosed three payloads for its Ghost Shark extra-large autonomous underwater vehicle: sea mines, aerial drones launched from the vehicle, and seabed supply caches. Pat Conroy, Australia’s Minister for Defence Industry, disclosed the capabilities on October 19, 2026, at Anduril Australia’s Sydney factory where the vehicles are built for the Royal Australian Navy.
Ghost Shark Submarine Receives Payloads in Sydney
The newly unveiled payload suite supports offensive and logistical missions. According to official disclosures, each Ghost Shark will be able to deploy 12 sea mines at any one time and release swarms of Altius uncrewed aerial vehicles in ISR or strike options, and drop supply caches onto the seabed. “Ghost Shark now has teeth, and will have the ability to inflict damage on any potential adversary,” Pat Conroy stated at the factory unveiling.
Anduril released footage on October 21, 2026, showing a surfaced Ghost Shark opening hull doors, raising a launcher with 12 angled tubes, and firing an Altius-type drone. The platform supports the Royal Australian Navy’s mission requirements for sea denial, seabed operations, and the protection of critical undersea infrastructure.
Billions Invested in Autonomous Undersea Warfare Fleets
Canberra is spending A$1.7 billion (about US$1.2 billion) on a new fleet of Australian-designed and built Ghost Sharks. This procurement sits within a broader A$5.8 billion decade-long investment dedicated to autonomous and uncrewed undersea warfare under the 2026 National Defence Strategy and Integrated Investment Program. The government announced in September 2025 that it is buying “dozens” of the vehicles, which are now rolling off the production line at an increasing rate.
Vice Admiral Matthew Buckley, Chief of Navy, emphasized that autonomous systems add numbers to the fleet. “Given the vastness of our maritime geography, the ability to rapidly deliver uncrewed systems adds numbers to our fleet and complements our crewed ships and submarines,” Buckley said. Alongside the Ghost Shark, the Department of Defence confirmed payload development and integration for C2 Robotics’ Speartooth uncrewed underwater vehicle and Ocius’ Bluebottle uncrewed surface vessel, the latter of which will feature a thin-line towed array sonar for detecting submarines.
AUKUS Partners Prepare for San Diego Exercise Trials
Some of the payloads are scheduled to take part in Maritime Big Play Pacific, an AUKUS Pillar II exercise in San Diego. This testing builds upon three years of collaborative payload trials between AUKUS partners. It also complements the announcement by AUKUS defence ministers in May of the first Pillar II signature project, which covers payloads and enabling systems for partners’ uncrewed undersea vehicles.
While the capabilities are expanding, several tactical specifics remain unconfirmed by defence officials. A Rheinmetall Asteria 533 mm sea mine was displayed next to the vehicle during the Sydney press conference, but it was not installed in the payload bay, and Defence has not said which mine the Navy will field. Furthermore, while the Altius aircraft displayed at the factory were from Anduril’s ALTIUS-600 family, the variant Ghost Shark will carry has not been disclosed.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Ghost Shark Fleet
How many Ghost Shark submarines is the Australian Navy buying?
The government announced in September 2025 that it is purchasing “dozens” of the extra-large autonomous underwater vehicles as part of a A$1.7 billion fleet acquisition program.
What weapons and equipment can the submarine deploy?
A single Ghost Shark can deploy 12 sea mines, release swarms of Altius uncrewed aerial vehicles for ISR or strike options, and deposit supply caches on the seabed.
Where are the Ghost Shark submarines manufactured?
The autonomous vehicles are built by Anduril Australia at a manufacturing facility in Sydney, New South Wales, which opened less than a year prior to the October 2026 payload disclosure.
How does the AUKUS agreement involve these payloads?
Some payloads are heading to San Diego for the Maritime Big Play Pacific exercise, advancing joint uncrewed undersea vehicle technology under the AUKUS Pillar II partnership.
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