According to the US Navy News Network, on April 18th, Andriel, along with the Royal Australian Navy and Defense Technology Group, jointly released photos of the "Ghost Shark" super large autonomous underwater vehicle and announced that the plan was completed ahead of schedule. The Ghost Shark is the first project created by the Australian government since promoting the transformation of its defense innovation system. The project will be implemented in 2023, and the original plan was to build the first prototype within 3 years. Recently, Australian Defense Industry Minister Pat Conroy, a legislator, announced on Garden Island in Sydney that the Australian government will provide the country's navy with ultra large unmanned underwater vehicles with autonomous navigation capabilities through the "Ghost Shark" program. Due to the fact that there is no need to provide anti pressure hull for crew members or install complex soundproofing equipment, the Ghost Shark is much smaller than conventional submarines, and the installation of electronic devices and weapon systems is also simpler. According to reports, the length of the submarine is about 6 meters, with a height and width of about 2.5 meters respectively. It has a displacement of 30 to 40 tons and uses diesel electric propulsion. The maximum speed is about 6 knots, and its appearance is similar to the large unmanned underwater vehicle "Tiger Whale" developed by Boeing in the United States. According to reports, the Ghost Shark adopts an open architecture and modular design, and can be equipped with various sensors, missiles, torpedoes, and other weapons, flexibly meeting various mission requirements. In future combat scenarios, the Ghost Shark can be equipped with advanced sensors for underwater surveillance and reconnaissance missions, as well as as as a part of a distributed kill chain, carrying payloads such as light torpedoes or anti-ship missiles for strike missions. With the support of advanced artificial intelligence systems, "ghost sharks" can also perform long-term underwater operations and carry out high-risk combat tasks. In recent years, the Australian Department of Defense has significantly increased its naval budget. According to the 2024 Comprehensive Investment Plan, the Australian Department of Defense has allocated AUD 76 billion (approximately USD 49.8 billion) in defense budget for underwater force construction, including nuclear powered submarines and related infrastructure. After the deployment of the Ghost Shark, the Royal Australian Navy will be able to carry out long-range autonomous underwater operations, with continuous intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and strike capabilities. In addition, as part of the Okus submarine agreement, the Ghost Shark may collaborate with British and American warships in combat. (Lai Xin She)