Australian defense officials announced that the Ghost Shark extra-large unmanned underwater vessel will carry sea mines, supply caches and Altius 600 aerial drones as part of its payload suite. The announcement, made on Oct. 21, 2026, followed a demonstration video released by Anduril Industries. The integration of these systems is scheduled for deployment during the AUKUS Pillar II exercise Maritime Big Play Pacific in San Diego. According to the Australian Department of Defense, payloads from Ghost Shark, Speartooth and BlueBottle sea drones will be tested in the upcoming trilateral drill. The project, backed by a $1.7 billion investment in Anduril’s Dive-XL UUV platform, aims to field undersea drones that can operate across the Indo-Pacific. Minister for Defense Industry Pat Conroy MP described the Ghost Shark program as a flagship Australian success that reflects sovereign capability development. The vessel is capable of carrying up to 12 mines and at least 24 Altius-600 drones, which can be configured for reconnaissance or one-way attack missions. AUKUS Pillar II’s signature initiative targets delivery of UUV payloads for all three partner nations by 2027, focusing on seabed infrastructure protection, surveillance and strike capabilities. The Royal Australian Navy plans to expand its use of unmanned systems to enhance monitoring of its exclusive economic zone amid increased activity by foreign naval forces in the region.