Australia equips Ghost Shark underwater drones with offensive payloads
Australia's secret Ghost Shark uncrewed submarines have been fitted with strike and mine-laying capabilities, Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy announced.
Australia has upgraded its Ghost Shark uncrewed submarines with offensive payloads, enabling them to fire weapons, deploy sea mines and gather intelligence for the Royal Australian Navy. Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy described the addition as giving the drones "teeth" to harm potential foes. The vessels, designed in the United States and manufactured by Anduril Industries in a secret Sydney plant, are funded with more than $1.5 billion and complement the aerial Ghost Bat drones.
Navy chief Vice Admiral Matt Buckley highlighted the rapid maturation of the program into a scalable, mission-ready capability. The drones form part of the second pillar of the AUKUS defence partnership and will be demonstrated to allied forces during upcoming exercises in San Diego.
Why it matters
The upgrade turns Australia's underwater drones into armed assets, expanding its maritime defence options amid regional tensions.
How the sides frame it
LOW AGREEMENTLeft-leaning coverage presents the Ghost Shark program as a technical advancement and investment in unmanned undersea warfare, while right-leaning coverage highlights the addition of offensive capabilities and frames the drones as weapons with "teeth".
LEFT
Focuses on the system’s capabilities, investment scale, and integration with Australia’s broader AUKUS and submarine strategy
RIGHT
Emphasizes the offensive nature of the payloads, the drones’ ability to harm foes, and the secrecy of the U.S.-designed production
The left emphasises
- capable of carrying twelve naval mines, swarms of Anduril Altius loitering drones and underwater supply caches
- can be deployed from shipping containers or modest vessels, allowing covert mine-laying and long-range strikes without crew risk
- part of a $5.8 billion investment in unmanned undersea warfare over ten years and complements the AUKUS-linked nuclear submarine programme
The right emphasises
- upgraded with offensive payloads, giving the drones "teeth" to harm potential foes
- designed in the United States and manufactured by Anduril Industries in a secret Sydney plant
- funded with more than $1.5 billion and forms the second pillar of the AUKUS defence partnership
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