Updated:
Australia has unveiled three previously secret payloads for its Ghost Shark autonomous submarine drone, including sea mines, logistical caches and aerial drones capable of carrying out strikes.
Speaking in Sydney on Monday, Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy said the new capabilities would expand the drone's operational role and strengthen Australia's undersea warfare capabilities.
The Ghost Shark will be able to deploy sea mines and logistical caches containing equipment developed by Australia's Defence Science and Technology Group to support potential special forces operations.
It will also be capable of deploying Altius uncrewed aerial vehicles, which can conduct intelligence gathering, surveillance and reconnaissance, as well as strikes.