PREVIEW

Australia is developing a fleet of advanced autonomous underwater vehicles named "Ghost Sharks”. The vessels will monitor its surrounding waters and provide protection against international threats. The extra-large submarines are equipped to handle offensive operations and gather intelligence, signalling a new phase in submarine warfare. The formidable vessel, comparable in size to a single-decker bus, can dive up to 6,000 meters and operate continuously for as long as 10 days. A collaborative effort among defence scientists, Navy officials, and robotics experts is underway to produce multiple XL-AUVs intended to strengthen maritime security and surveillance. The submarines will grant the Navy a "stealthy, long-range autonomous undersea warfare capability," performing sustained reconnaissance, surveillance, and strike missions. The government stated that the project would be "mission zero" meaning it would be the highest level of priority with expectations for the Ghost Shark to be operational by 2025.