Australia’s new Ghost Shark submarines grow some ‘teeth’

Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy said in Sydney on Monday that three payloads had been approved following secret trials to carry out tasks considered too dangerous for humans. (EPA Images pic) SYDNEY: Australia is boosting its undersea warfare capability by equipping its Ghost Shark autonomous submarine with "swarms" of aerial drones and sea mines, its defence ministry said Monday.

US defence technology start-up Anduril jointly developed the extra large submarine drone with Australia's defence scientists, and is building a Ghost Shark fleet for Canberra under a Au$1.8 billion (US$1.3 billion) contract.

The AUKUS partners of Australia, Britain and the US pledged this year to develop interchangeable payloads for drones used in undersea warfare, in addition to their nuclear submarine cooperation.

Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy said in Sydney on Monday that after secret trials three payloads had been approved to "do things we don't want humans to do".

The Ghost Shark will carry up to 12 sea mines, equipment for special forces, and Anduril's Altius aerial drone that can be launched at sea to form swarms to conduct reconnaissance and strike, he told reporters.

Potential adversaries will have to consider that any shipping container at an Australian wharf could have a Ghost Shark in it, he said.

"Not only could there be Ghost Sharks in those shipping containers, but those Ghost Sharks now have teeth," he said.

Australia, concerned at the rapid build-up of China's navy and tensions in the South China Sea, is rapidly expanding its investment in drones.

The Ghost Shark can travel long distances and would work in tandem with the crewed submarine fleet, officials said.

"A range of other countries" had expressed interest in acquiring the Ghost Shark, Conroy said.

China is focused on developing undersea sensors, weapons and autonomous vehicles to counter US submarines, the US Navy's intelligence director told a US government committee in May.

Anduril earlier this month won a US$2.9 billion US Navy contract to build components for the US Navy's Virginia-class submarine and said it will build a new submarine shipyard in the US.

The US is seeking to speed up production so it can sell the submarines to Australia under the AUKUS agreement.