The announcement at Anduril’s New South Wales facility covered Ghost Shark, the Speartooth uncrewed underwater vehicle and BlueBottle. Across those platforms, payload examples include remotely delivered supply caches, sea mines and uncrewed aerial vehicles.
“Ghost Shark is a flagship Australian success story that showcases the ingenuity of our defence industry and the value of investing in sovereign capability,” said Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy. “Our Government opened this factory less than a year ago and Ghost Sharks capable of a range of complex missions operating far from our shores are now rolling off the line at an increasing rate into the hands of the Australian Navy.”
The platforms’ modular designs allow them to carry different equipment according to mission requirements. The government did not specify which payloads had been integrated into Ghost Shark or which would take part in the exercise.
New test footage: Ghost Shark deploys sea mines and logistics caches. https://t.co/AyX1PnetgB
— Anduril Industries (@anduriltech) October 21, 2026
The work is intended to strengthen undersea warfare, seabed operations, sea denial and protection of critical undersea infrastructure. It involves the Royal Australian Navy, Defence Science and Technology Group, Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator and industry.
The payload effort builds on three years of testing with Australia’s AUKUS partners, the United States and United Kingdom. It also supports the first Pillar II Signature Project, announced by the countries’ defense ministers in May.
That project focuses on payloads and enabling systems for uncrewed undersea vehicles. Maritime Big Play Pacific provides another opportunity to test developments alongside allied systems.
“Ghost Shark has teeth now.” – @PatConroy1, Australia’s Minister for Defence Industry.
The @ausgov and @Australian_Navy confirmed the payloads that our Ghost Shark extra-large autonomous submarine carries: sea mines, logistics caches, and air-launched effects for ISR and strike.
Ghost Sharks are rolling off the production line. Payload testing is active.
— Anduril Industries (@anduriltech) October 21, 2026
“The development of advanced, cutting‑edge payloads under AUKUS Pillar II is a critical part of our work alongside the United States and the United Kingdom,” said Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles. “Australia will again have the opportunity to showcase its sovereign developments at Exercise Maritime Big Play Pacific this week, and our work behind the scenes means we can be more open about our work to deliver these important technologies.”
Australia plans to invest up to A$5.8 billion over the decade in autonomous and uncrewed undersea warfare capabilities under its 2026 National Defence Strategy and Integrated Investment Program. The total includes A$1.7 billion for a new fleet of Australian-designed and built Ghost Sharks.
