Undersea Guardians: Cutting-Edge Drones in Australia and US Waters

Ghost Shark and Manta Ray are the names of prototype uncrewed underwater vehicles – UUVs or drones – introduced recently by Australia and the United States respectively.

These futuristic-sounding vehicles are not part of a superhero movie plot, but rather a glimpse into the potential future of Pacific naval defenses.

The future of undersea warfare could be represented by submersibles, as they have the ability to exert power while reducing the risk to human life.

The use of drones in aerial warfare has become common practice. The US has used them extensively in conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan since the 1990s. Nowadays, newer and more affordable drones have become essential military equipment for both sides in Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Kyiv has developed naval surface drones that have successfully damaged the larger and pricier ships of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet.

Aerial and surface sea drones can be operated through satellites, light, and radio waves. However, these methods do not work the same way in deeper waters.

Underwater communications face challenges due to the need for more energy and data loss from factors like water temperature, salinity, and depth. A study in the Swiss journal Sensors in 2023 highlighted these issues.

The makers of the latest military UUVs have not disclosed how they plan to address these communication obstacles.

But when Australia unveiled Ghost Shark last month, it called the prototypes “the most advanced undersea autonomous vehicles in the world.”

The first Ghost Shark prototype, "Alpha," was co-developed by the Defence Science and Technology Group, Navy and Anduril Australia.

The first Ghost Shark prototype, "Alpha," was co-developed by the Defence Science and Technology Group, Navy and Anduril Australia.

Rodney Braithwaite/Australian Government Defence

The Australian Defense Ministry stated that Ghost Shark will offer the Navy a stealthy, long-range autonomous undersea warfare capability. This will allow it to carry out persistent intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR), and strike missions. They anticipate the first production models to be handed over by the end of the following year.

Both Australian officials and Anduril Australia, the manufacturer, have mentioned that they are unable to disclose any specifications regarding Ghost Shark as they are classified.

Anduril's senior vice president for engineering, Shane Arnott, expressed excitement about the quick progress of the submersible project. He mentioned that the program started only two years ago and is already ahead of schedule and on budget, which is quite rare in the industry. The speed with which the submersible has gone from idea to testing has been impressive, according to Arnott.

Australia’s chief defense scientist, Tanya Monro, expressed that delivering the first Ghost Shark prototype ahead of schedule is a milestone in capability development at the speed of need.

Emma Salisbury, a fellow at the British think tank Council on Geostrategy, noted that the Ghost Shark bears resemblance to the Orca extra-large UUV being developed in the US.

Ukraine has used sea drones to attack Russia’s fleet in the Black Sea, racking up unprecedented victories. Each drone carries at least 250kg (500lb) of explosives.

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Ukraine has used sea drones to attack Russia’s fleet in the Black Sea, racking up unprecedented victories. Each drone carries at least 250kg (500lb) of explosives.

Peter Rudden/CNN

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Salisbury suggested that all the new vehicles are designed for similar missions like gathering intelligence, conducting surveillance, reconnaissance, and carrying out strikes, especially in anti-submarine operations.

The US Navy described the Boeing-made Orca UUV as an advanced, autonomous, unmanned diesel-electric submarine with a modular payload section for various mission capabilities. This information was shared in a news release in December when the first Orca test platform, an initial prototype, was delivered.

Having a modular payload means the Orca could potentially carry different types of weapons or specialized equipment for various tasks such as reconnaissance or intelligence gathering.

The Pentagon announced that they will be acquiring five more Orca UUVs, but did not provide a timeline. In contrast, the development of the US Orca has been ongoing for over a decade, unlike Australia's Ghost Shark which was developed quickly.

Anduril's chief strategy officer, Chris Brose, mentioned that the company and Australia are working together to demonstrate that advanced capabilities can be developed quicker, cheaper, and smarter.

According to Anduril Australia, the domestically created Ghost Shark will be ready for export once it becomes part of the Australian naval fleet.

Manta Ray trials

Meanwhile, back across the Pacific, the Orca isn’t the only UUV being developed in the US.

America’s newest underwater drone is the Manta Ray, created by Northrop Grumman. A test version of this drone was recently tested in the waters off Southern California.

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), a division of the Pentagon responsible for creating innovative technologies, highlights the Manta Ray's key feature - its modularity. This means that the drone can easily swap out different payloads depending on the specific mission requirements.

Northrop Grumman states that the equipment can be dismantled and packed into five standard shipping containers for transportation to its deployment location. Once it reaches the destination, it can be easily reassembled in the field.

The prototype was initially constructed in Maryland and later reassembled on the California coast for testing and deployment.

Kyle Woerner, the head of the Manta Ray program at DARPA, stated in a news release that the unique ability of extra-large UUVs to be transported, assembled in the field, and deployed is a first-of-its-kind achievement.

Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency program manager Kyle Woerner (right) talks with a member of the Northrop Grumman team while standing atop the Manta Ray vehicle.

Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency program manager Kyle Woerner chats with a Northrop Grumman team member while standing on the Manta Ray vehicle.

The modular transport method allows the Manta Ray to conserve internal energy for its mission, instead of using it up to reach the deployment site.

Similar to the Orca, the Manta Ray has not progressed as rapidly as the Ghost Shark. Its program started in 2020, and DARPA has not set a specific target for the Manta Ray or any similar variant to be included in the US fleet.

Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Antietam (CG 54) fires a Phalanx Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) during a live-fire exercise, Philippine Sea, on June 6, 2022.

Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Antietam (CG 54) fires a Phalanx Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) during a live-fire exercise, Philippine Sea, on June 6, 2022.

Santiago Navarro/U.S. Navy

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According to a release from DARPA, the agency is currently working with the U.S. Navy to plan the next phase of testing and implementation of this technology.

Meanwhile, China is also making progress in UUVs, according to Salisbury. She mentioned that the US military has identified China as its "pacing threat" in the Pacific.

Salisbury stated that although there is limited information available, Chinese capabilities have been in development for over 15 years. It is likely that they are currently testing a UUV similar to the Orca, but equipped with torpedoes.

According to submarine expert H I Sutton on his Covert Shores website, Beijing is reportedly developing at least six extra-large UUVs based on open-source intelligence.

Sutton also mentions that countries like Australia, the US, China, Canada, France, India, Iran, Israel, North Korea, Norway, Russia, South Korea, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom are also working on UUV technology.

Editor's P/S:

The development of Ghost Shark and Manta Ray, the latest uncrewed underwater vehicles (UUVs) by Australia and the US, marks a significant step forward in the realm of naval warfare. These futuristic submersibles, characterized by their stealth, long-range, and autonomous capabilities, have the potential to revolutionize undersea defense strategies. Their ability to conduct intelligence gathering, surveillance, reconnaissance, and strike missions while minimizing risk to human life opens up new possibilities in naval warfare.

The rapid pace of development of these UUVs, particularly Australia's Ghost Shark, underscores the growing emphasis on advanced and cost-effective defense capabilities. The modular design of both Ghost Shark and Manta Ray allows for flexibility in mission configurations, further enhancing their versatility in various operational scenarios. As countries around the world continue to invest in UUV technology, it is likely that these submersibles will play an increasingly prominent role in shaping the future of naval warfare.