Australia gugugol ng $1.1B sa Anduril undersea drone fleet
An Anduril Ghost Shark Extra Large Autonomous Undersea Vehicle (XL-AUV) is displayed at the Royal Australian Navy base HMAS Kuttabul, in Sydney, Australia, September 10, 2025. REUTERS/Hollie Adams
Inihayag ng Australia na gugugol ito ng 1.7 billion Australian dollar o US$1.1 billion, sa isang fleet ng “Ghost Shark” autonomous undersea vehicles, na dinivelop ng kanilang defence force at U.S. startup na Anduril Industries, para sa surveillance at strikes.
Sinabi ni Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy, na ang kontrata sa Anduril Australia ay sumasaklaw sa delivery, maintenance at continued development ng Ghost Shark sa susunod na limang taon.
Ayon kay Defence Minister Richard Marles, ang Ghost Shark ay karagdagan sa navy surface fleet at submarines ng Australia, para sa mas “capable and more lethal navy.”
Richard Marles, Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, and Pat Conroy, Australian Minister for Defence Industry, arrive at the Royal Australian Navy base HMAS Kuttabul, in Sydney, Australia, September 10, 2025. REUTERS/Hollie Adam
Ani Conroy, “It has the capability to conduct intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and strike at extremely long distances from the Australian continent. The first Ghost Sharks will be in service at the beginning of 2026.”
Sinabi ng Defense Science and Technology Group ng Australia, na gusto nitong isama ang autonomous technology sa defense force dahil ang Australia ay may malawak na baybayin at hanggang 3 milyong square kilometers (1.2 million square miles) ng hilagang karagatan na kailangang ipagtanggol, ngunit medyo kakaunti lang ang populasyon.
May bukod din itong plano na magtayo ng mga submarinong pinapagana ng nukleyar kasama ng Britain at Estados Unidos sa ilalim ng programang AUKUS sa loob ng tatlong dekada.
