Australia Reveals Ghost Shark’s Modular Payload Bay for Mines and Drones
On October 19, 2026, Australia unveiled the first public images of the payload bay for its Ghost Shark extra-large uncrewed underwater vehicle. The announcement confirmed three new mission capabilities: deploying up to 12 sea mines, leaving underwater supply caches, and launching Anduril ALTIUS aerial drones. These modular payloads, developed under AUKUS Pillar II, allow the Royal Australian Navy to configure the vehicle for strike, surveillance, and logistics missions. The reveal coincided with Exercise Maritime Big Play Pacific in San Diego, highlighting Australia’s shift toward autonomous undersea warfare as part of a A$5.8 billion decade-long investment.