Australia has disclosed new weapons capabilities for its Ghost Shark autonomous submarines, including aerial drones and advanced sea mines.

What it means

Australia has officially disclosed new weapon payloads for its Ghost Shark extra-large autonomous underwater vehicles (XL-AUVs), confirming that the robotic submarines will be able to launch swarms of aerial drones and deploy advanced sea mines. The revelation, based on declassified defence material, marks a significant capability upgrade for the Royal Australian Navy's underwater drone fleet.

Accuracy & sourcesGrounded

Solidly reported by multiple reputable outlets (ABC News Australia, Sydney Morning Herald, Euronews) citing declassified Australian Defence Department information. The reporting is close to the primary source (official declassified documents), so the core claims about the payloads are well-founded.

How new

Genuinely new – published on 19 October 2026, based on a fresh declassification of defence capabilities.

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