Australia's government has announced plans to invest $1.7 billion in a fleet of long-range underwater drones, set to begin operations in January 2024. These drones, referred to as "Ghost Sharks," will be designed for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and strike missions.

Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles emphasized that the Ghost Sharks will enhance, rather than replace, Australia's existing defense partnerships, particularly the AUKUS pact with the United States. This pact, valued at $368 billion, will allow Australia to acquire nuclear-powered submarines by the 2030s. Marles stated, "Ghost Shark operates in conjunction with it, that's the point that I made up front. It also works in conjunction with our surface fleet, in what is clear is that going forward nations will need to have an autonomous military capability and that's what Ghost Shark represents."

While Marles did not disclose the exact number of drones to be acquired, he indicated that there would be "dozens" of them, with some expected to enter service early next year. He described the investment as a significant enhancement to Australia's undersea warfare capabilities, complementing the anticipated future nuclear-powered submarines.

"This is the highest tech capability in the world, it exemplifies the fact that Australia is leading the world in terms of autonomous underwater military capabilities," Marles added.

Vice Admiral Mark Hammond, the chief of the navy, noted that the Ghost Shark drones could be launched from both onshore facilities and warships. He expressed confidence that Australia and its allies would maintain a "capability advantage" in undersea warfare, despite advancements in military technology by other nations, including China.

Marles also highlighted the need for confidentiality regarding the specific functions of the Ghost Shark drones. "We're going to be a little coy in terms of how we answer specific questions about what this can do, given the nature of what it does," he said.

The development of the Ghost Shark program will be managed by the US defense company Anduril, which will oversee maintenance and ongoing advancements as part of a five-year contract.