Ghost Shark, Ghost Bat: Australia accelerates autonomous warfare amid rising tensions; check their features

Australia is accelerating the development of advanced autonomous military systems, with its Ghost Shark underwater drone and MQ-28 Ghost Bat aircraft moving rapidly from prototype to production, as Canberra seeks to strengthen its strategic position in the Indo-Pacific amid rising regional tensions, reports TOI.

The first Ghost Shark drones are expected to enter service this year, while the Ghost Bat has already achieved a key milestone by successfully firing an air-to-air missile in December 2025, signalling progress towards potential combat deployment. Defence analysts say the pace of both programmes has drawn global attention.

Ghost Shark programme gains momentum

Launched in mid-2022, the Ghost Shark programme is a collaboration between the Royal Australian Navy, the Defence Science and Technology Group and Anduril Australia. The first prototype was delivered ahead of schedule in April 2024.


In September 2025, the Australian government approved a A$1.7 billion five-year contract to build dozens of the drones, covering production, maintenance and continued development, with deployment expected in early 2026.

Describing the system, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles said, “This is the highest tech capability in the world,” adding that it demonstrates Australia’s leadership in autonomous undersea warfare, reports TOI.

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Ghost Shark features

The Ghost Shark is an extra-large autonomous underwater vehicle with a range of at least 3,200 kilometres. Smaller than the Collins-class submarines, it is designed for missions such as intelligence gathering, surveillance, mine-laying and anti-submarine support, particularly in high-risk environments.

Analysts told TOI, the platform could ease pressure on Australia’s existing submarine fleet by taking on persistent and dangerous operations, while bridging capability gaps until nuclear-powered submarines under the AUKUS partnership become operational in the coming decades.

Ghost Bat advances aerial capability

In parallel, Australia is developing the MQ-28 Ghost Bat, an autonomous aircraft built by Boeing’s Australian arm. Designed to operate alongside crewed fighter jets, it aims to extend range and enhance situational awareness in combat scenarios.

The Ghost Bat first flew in March 2021, marking Australia’s first domestically designed military aircraft in over 50 years. Since then, it has completed over 100 test flights and demonstrated operations from active air force bases.

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Ghost Bat features

In parallel, Australia is developing the MQ-28 Ghost Bat, an autonomous aircraft built by Boeing’s Australian arm. Designed to operate alongside crewed fighter jets, it aims to extend range and enhance situational awareness in combat scenarios.

The Ghost Bat first flew in March 2021, marking Australia’s first domestically designed military aircraft in over 50 years. Since then, it has completed over 100 test flights and demonstrated operations from active air force bases.

• Length: 38 feet (11.7 metres)
• Wingspan: 24 feet (7.3 metres)
• Height: 6.5 feet (2 metres)
• Weight: 7,000 pounds (3,175 kilograms)
• Range: 2,000+ nautical miles
• Speed: up to Mach 0.9
• Operational ceiling: 40,000+ feet

The successful live missile firing in December 2025 marked a major step towards operational capability. The drone can fly at near-sonic speeds, operate at high altitudes and cover long distances, with a modular design allowing rapid adaptation for different missions.

Military planners see it as a key component of future air operations, particularly for long-range missions focused on securing supply chains and projecting power, as reported by TOI. International interest is also growing, with countries such as Germany exploring the platform.

Strategic shift towards autonomous warfare

Both programmes reflect a broader shift in Australia’s defence strategy towards scalable, cost-effective and autonomous systems that reduce risks to personnel while integrating with allied forces.

The effort is supported by the AUKUS partnership with the United States and United Kingdom, including joint exercises testing advanced capabilities. As development accelerates across air and undersea domains, the twin programmes signal Canberra’s focus on building a flexible, technology-driven military for high-threat environments.

(With inputs from TOI)