Australia will deploy a fleet of large underwater 鈥淕host Shark鈥 attack drones in a US$1.1 billion defence programme, the Government said today.
The country will build dozens of the 鈥渆xtra large鈥 autonomous drones for the Royal Australian Navy, with the first entering service in January, Defence Minister Richard Marles said.
鈥淭his is a profoundly important capability for the Royal Australian Navy,鈥 he told reporters.
Australia is deploying dozens of autonomous 鈥楪host Shark鈥 drones in a A$1.7b defence upgrade. Photo / Australian Department of Defence
Anduril Australia secured a A$1.7 billion ($1.9b) contract to build, maintain and develop the new drones.
鈥淲e have consistently articulated that Australia faces the most complex, in some ways, the most threatening strategic landscape that we have had since the end of the Second World War,鈥 Marles said.
The undersea vehicles will complement Australia鈥檚 plan to acquire stealthy nuclear-powered submarines in a multi-billion-dollar agreement with Britain and the United States, he said.
Australia also has a programme under way for MQ-28A 鈥楪host Bat鈥 flying drones with Boeing.
-Agence France-Presse
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