Australia Gains Naval Strike Option as Ghost Shark Autonomous Submarine Launches ALTIUS Attack Drone.

Australia has released new footage showing its Ghost Shark autonomous submarine launching an ALTIUS aerial drone from the sea surface. The demonstration illustrates the ability of the uncrewed underwater vehicle, developed by Anduril, to deploy aerial systems for reconnaissance and naval strike missions. For the Royal Australian Navy, this technology introduces the possibility of engaging targets beyond the underwater environment without directly exposing a crewed submarine.

A Ghost Shark autonomous underwater vehicle launches an ALTIUS aerial drone during a demonstration of Australia's emerging naval reconnaissance and strike capabilities. (Picture source: Anduril)

The footage shows several angled launch tubes mounted on the Ghost Shark, with an ALTIUS drone emerging from one of them before continuing its flight over the maritime area. This configuration combines an autonomous underwater vehicle with an aerial system capable of operating against targets at a distance. It also provides further insight into the technical arrangements intended to transform the Ghost Shark, originally designed for underwater surveillance, into a vehicle capable of conducting reconnaissance and strike missions across multiple domains.

Anduril Industries published the footage on its social media channels on October 21, 2026, two days after the Australian government officially presented the Ghost Shark's new payload capabilities. During the October 19 announcement at Anduril's Sydney factory, Australia's Minister for Defence Industry, Pat Conroy, confirmed that the vehicle would be capable of deploying ALTIUS drones, carrying up to twelve naval mines, and placing underwater logistics caches. The company also stated that Ghost Shark production is continuing and payload testing is underway.

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The ALTIUS system, developed by Anduril, comprises a family of tube-launched aerial drones designed for different missions. The ALTIUS-600 can conduct intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance operations, while the ALTIUS-600M variant is designed to carry out strikes using an explosive payload. Depending on their configuration, these aircraft can extend surveillance beyond the sensor range of their launch vehicle or attack identified targets. However, the exact ALTIUS variant used in the demonstration has not been publicly identified.

The integration of these drones relies on the Ghost Shark's modular design, which allows its payload bay to be adapted to different mission requirements. The footage shows a series of launch tubes positioned on the upper section of the vehicle, near a vertical structure that may serve communications functions. This arrangement could allow multiple drones to be carried before deployment in a designated maritime area. However, the exact number of ALTIUS drones carried and the procedures for launching them when the Ghost Shark is operating beneath the surface have not been disclosed.

This capability has several potential applications for Australian naval operations. A Ghost Shark could enter a surveillance area before deploying an ALTIUS drone to locate surface vessels, identify targets, or transmit intelligence to other naval units. In an armed configuration, the drone could also be used against exposed equipment, including antennas, radars, and communications systems. Such an arrangement would allow the launch vehicle to approach an operational area while keeping crewed warships and submarines at a greater distance.

However, the released footage does not establish that a complete strike mission was conducted. It shows an aerial drone launch but does not document target acquisition, engagement, or the use of an explosive payload. The demonstration nevertheless represents an identifiable step in integrating aerial drones with an autonomous underwater vehicle whose offensive capabilities had previously been described mainly through official announcements and photographs of payload equipment.

The Ghost Shark program is supported by an A$1.7 billion contract signed in September 2025 to supply several dozen vehicles to the Royal Australian Navy. The first production unit was delivered in early 2026, while Anduril continues manufacturing the submarines at its Sydney facility. The development of common payloads is also a priority under AUKUS Pillar II, which brings together Australia, the United States, and the United Kingdom to develop advanced military technologies. Some of these capabilities are scheduled for evaluation during Exercise Maritime Big Play Pacific, held off the California coast in October 2026.

This capability could allow the Royal Australian Navy to deploy Ghost Sharks in strategically important waterways across the Indo-Pacific, where concentrated naval traffic creates opportunities for surveillance and interception. By launching ALTIUS drones from forward positions, these underwater vehicles could extend reconnaissance beyond their onboard sensors and threaten exposed equipment on opposing warships, including radars, communications antennas, and other external systems. Combined with their announced mine-laying capability, this configuration could force an opposing fleet to address underwater and aerial threats simultaneously while allocating additional resources to protecting its maritime routes. For Australia, the operational advantage would be the ability to distribute reconnaissance and strike capabilities across multiple autonomous vehicles without systematically deploying its six crewed Collins-class submarines.

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Written By Erwan Halna du Fretay - Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group
Erwan Halna du Fretay holds a Master’s degree in International Relations and has experience studying conflicts and global arms transfers. His research interests include security and strategic studies, particularly the dynamics of the defense industry, the evolution of military technologies, and the strategic transformation of armed forces.