SYDNEY: Australia is boosting its undersea warfare functionality by equipping its Ghost Shark autonomous submarine with “swarms” of aerial drones and sea mines, its defence ministry mentioned on Monday (Oct 19).
US defence expertise start-up Anduril collectively developed the extra-large submarine drone with Australia’s defence scientists, and is constructing a Ghost Shark fleet for Canberra below a A$1.8 billion (US$1.3 billion) contract.
The AUKUS companions of Australia, Britain and the US pledged this 12 months to develop interchangeable payloads for drones utilized in undersea warfare, along with their nuclear submarine cooperation.
Defence Trade Minister Pat Conroy mentioned in Sydney on Monday that after secret trials, three payloads had been accredited to “do issues we do not need people to do”.
The Ghost Shark will carry as much as 12 sea mines, gear for particular forces, and Anduril’s Altius aerial drone that may be launched at sea to type swarms to conduct reconnaissance and strike, he instructed reporters.
Potential adversaries should think about that any transport container at an Australian wharf might have a Ghost Shark in it, he mentioned.
“Not solely might there be Ghost Sharks in these transport containers, however these Ghost Sharks now have tooth,” he mentioned.
