Australia’s big maritime territory creates special defence challenges that regular naval assets don’t deal very well with. Underwater threats in the Indo-Pacific region have become more complex. Australia looks for innovative solutions beyond regular submarines. The Ghost Shark submarine shows a big change in Australia’s plans to protect its maritime borders.
China’s Naval Expansion in the Indo-Pacific
Naval forces in the Indo-Pacific region have modernised by a lot. China’s fleet has grown faster than anyone expected. The Chinese navy is now the world’s largest with “over 350 ships and submarines“. Their expansion has advanced underwater capabilities. Chinese submarines run quieter and operate longer distances from their shores.
This naval build-up makes things tough for Australia. Chinese ships now operate throughout maritime Southeast Asia and the South Pacific—areas where Australia traditionally had influence. On top of that, China uses underwater drones and seafloor monitoring systems. Regular naval assets can’t counter this complex web of surveillance easily.
Limitations of Crewed Submarines in Vast Maritime Zones
Australia’s maritime area covers “approximately 10 million square kilometres“—a space so big that regular crewed submarines can’t watch it all the time. Australia’s geography makes these limitations clear:
- Crewed submarines need lots of support and maintenance time
- Crew availability limits how long submarines can deploy
- High costs restrict fleet size and where submarines can go
The Royal Australian Navy’s submarines face these challenges while they watch shipping lanes, undersea infrastructure, and potential threats. Crewed submarines also put sailors at risk in dangerous waters or during spy missions near enemy coastlines.
Why Autonomy is Central to Australia’s Defence Strategy
The Ghost Shark submarine taps into the full potential of autonomous technology to solve these problems. This submarine stays underwater longer because it doesn’t need life support systems. The benefits include:
- Long missions in risky areas without endangering crews
- Lower costs mean Australia can build more submarines
- Better awareness through connected sensor networks
Ghost Shark submarines let Australia gather intelligence in contested waters without revealing its presence. These platforms work well with regular assets, including the nuclear submarines coming through the AUKUS partnership.
Ghost Shark submarines give Australia capabilities that regular platforms can’t match. This focus on autonomy helps Australia watch and protect its waters better without spending too much on crew or operations—vital for a country with few people but huge maritime borders.
Development Timeline of the Ghost Shark Programme
The Ghost Shark Submarine programme stands out as Australia’s fastest-developed defence capability. This state-of-the-art underwater platform showcases Australia’s new approach to military procurement and development. The programme went from concept to operational readiness in record time.
2022 Contract Signing and Prototype Goals
The Ghost Shark submarine story began in May 2022. Anduril Industries signed a groundbreaking contract with the Royal Australian Navy and the Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG). The deal created a co-funded partnership between Defence and Anduril Australia, with AUD 214.06 million in investment.
Anduril promised to deliver three prototype autonomous submarines within three years. The contract set an ambitious target to have a manufacturing-ready design by mid-2025. The programme aimed to create sovereign Australian technology, built entirely on Australian soil.
The submarine project got its official name ‘Ghost Shark’ in December 2022. The Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator (ASCA) then chose Ghost Shark Submarine as “Mission Zero,” that indicates its key role in Australia’s defence innovation ecosystem.
Alpha Prototype Reveal in April 2024
The Australian government showed off the first Ghost Shark prototype, ‘Alpha,’ at Sydney’s Fleet Base East on April 18, 2024. This happened a full year before the original schedule, which proved how well the partnership worked.
Navy officials and Anduril representatives revealed that Ghost Shark trials had been running before the public announcement. The prototype was a big deal as it means that it was larger than Anduril’s previous Dive-LD autonomous underwater vehicle.
A Ghost Shark prototype headed over to Hawaii on a RAAF Boeing C-17 Globemaster in mid-2024. It participated in Exercise RIMPAC, which showed how easily it could work with allied forces.
Transition to Full-Rate Production by 2025
The Australian Government and Anduril agreed to share costs for large-scale production in Australia in August 2024. The Defence Minister soon announced talks about full-rate production of the Ghost Shark submarine.
The prototype phase came in under budget and ahead of schedule. This gave the government confidence to move straight from Systems Design & Development into full production. The Australian Government committed AUD 2.60 billion on September 10, 2025, to buy “dozens” of Ghost Shark submarines. The first production models will start service in January 2026.
This five-year contract keeps 120 existing jobs and creates 150 new positions at Anduril Australia’s Sydney facility. It also brings 600 more jobs across more than 40 Australian supply chain companies.
Ghost Shark Submarine Specifications and Capabilities
The Ghost Shark submarine breaks away from traditional crewed submarines with pressure hulls. It uses a revolutionary flooded design that changes how autonomous underwater vehicles work in maritime defence.
Flooded Hull Design for Deep-Water Endurance
The Ghost Shark’s design uses a “flooded” hull architecture that lets water flow freely through most of the vessel’s interior spaces. This bold shift from standard submarine design removes the need for a complete pressure hull. Critical systems are housed in smaller waterproof compartments or “pressure sanctuaries”. This approach cuts structural weight, adds payload capacity, and helps the vessel withstand extreme depths that would destroy regular submarines.
AI-Powered Navigation via Lattice Framework
Anduril’s sophisticated Lattice artificial intelligence system sits at the heart of Ghost Shark’s submarine autonomous capabilities. The AI framework drives all decision-making functions and enables live navigation, mission planning, and threat assessment without human input. The Lattice system connects the Ghost Shark with other platforms—both crewed and uncrewed. This supports coordinated operations across maritime domains.
Operational Depth: Up to 6000 Metres
The Ghost Shark can operate at depths reaching 6000 metres. This is a big deal as it means that it surpasses most manned submarines. This remarkable depth range allows the vessel to:
- Access 98% of the world’s ocean floors
- Operate below the thermocline, enhancing stealth
- Conduct seabed surveillance in virtually any maritime zone
Autonomy Duration: Up to 10 Days
The submarine can operate autonomously for up to 10 days without surfacing or external control[151]. This extended endurance lets it watch contested waters without revealing its location. The Ghost Shark’s advanced energy management systems support “very long range” operations, though exact range details remain classified.
Strike and ISR Capabilities in Stealth Mode
Defence officials call the Ghost Shark submarine an “affordable, stealthy, long-range, trusted undersea capability” for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR) and strike operations.
The modular design fits various mission-specific payloads. The platform can adjust quickly for different operational needs. The vessel gathers covert intelligence and can deliver kinetic effects against enemy assets while maintaining plausible deniability.
Strategic Role and Global Implications
The Ghost Shark submarine stands as a revolutionary force in technology. It represents a transformation in Australia’s maritime defence strategy, especially in the increasingly contested Indo-Pacific region.
Integration with AUKUS Nuclear Submarine Fleet
The Ghost Shark drone submarine works among future nuclear-powered submarines Australia will acquire through the AUKUS partnership. This relationship creates a layered defence strategy. Autonomous vessels handle continuous surveillance and high-risk operations.
Crewed submarines take on more complex missions. Navy officials have confirmed their focus on finding potential collaborative opportunities between the Ghost Shark submarine programme and future trilateral work through AUKUS Advanced Capabilities.
Export Potential to US and Allied Navies
The Ghost Shark autonomous submarine offers substantial export opportunities, though we developed it for Australian defence needs. Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy emphasised Australia’s world-leading position in advanced undersea capability.
He noted strong export potential to allies and like-minded countries. Anduril Australia has built manufacturing facilities for international production. They plan to export to the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, and European partners.
Impact on Regional Maritime Power Balance
Australia has faced Chinese naval vessels in its home waters over the last several years. A flotilla even circumnavigated Australia and conducted live-fire exercises in the Tasman Strait.
The Ghost Shark programme tackles these challenges through coastal defence patrols and area-wide domain awareness powered by artificial intelligence. This autonomous capability gives Australia a crucial advantage against larger naval powers at a fraction of traditional platform costs.
What’s Next?
The Ghost Shark submarine programme is without doubt a defining moment in Australia’s maritime defence strategy. This $1.7bn investment tackles major challenges that the nation’s conventional submarine fleet faces. Australia now leads the way in autonomous underwater technology.
The Ghost Shark’s development has been remarkable. The programme went from concept to reality in just three years. The team finished by a lot earlier than planned and spent less than budgeted. This success shows a new way to develop military technology in Australia, unlike the usual slow defence procurement process.
These autonomous vessels pack impressive technical features.
The submarines can dive to depths of 6000 metres, run independently for ten days, and navigate using AI technology. They give Australia new options for underwater surveillance and strikes. The flooded hull design lets them operate especially when you have depths that regular submarines can’t reach.
The programme’s strategic value means more than just its technology. China keeps expanding its navy across the Indo-Pacific region. These budget-friendly platforms help Australia watch vast sea territories without risking lives. On top of that, they work alongside the future AUKUS nuclear submarine fleet. This creates a defence system that works best across different scenarios.
Australia’s defence industry grows stronger with this programme. It creates hundreds of jobs and builds local manufacturing skills. Allied nations might want to buy these submarines, which boosts Australia’s role as a defence technology provider instead of just buying from others.
The first Ghost Shark submarines will start service in January 2026. They will change how naval power works in the region. These underwater vessels help Australia gather intelligence, project power quietly, and stop potential threats – everything a nation needs when facing growing security challenges in its huge maritime territory.