Australia boosts military drone spending amid global conflicts
Consensus Summary
Australia is significantly increasing its investment in military drones and autonomous systems, driven by lessons from conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. Defence Minister Richard Marles announced a $12–15 billion spending plan over the next decade, up from $2–5 billion more than the 2024 National Defence Strategy, focusing on uncrewed air, maritime, and land systems. Key projects include the Boeing-developed Ghost Bat drone, designed to operate alongside F-35 jets, and the Ghost Shark, an extra-large autonomous underwater vehicle. The Ghost Bat, costing $12–15 million per unit, can perform ISR, electronic warfare, and strike missions, while the Ghost Shark’s capabilities remain largely classified. The government also plans to invest $2.2 billion in smaller, cheaper drones and bolster counter-drone measures to address threats from mass-produced drones used in recent conflicts. The move aims to boost Australia’s sovereign defence industry, create local jobs, and enhance protection for critical infrastructure, with potential export opportunities for these advanced systems.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Australia will invest $12–15 billion on drone and counter-drone technologies over the next decade, an increase of $2–5 billion from the 2024 National Defence Strategy.
- Defence Minister Richard Marles cited conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East as key drivers for increased drone investment, noting drones generate 'significant asymmetric advantage' against larger platforms.
- The Ghost Bat (MQ-28A) drone, developed by Boeing for the Royal Australian Air Force, costs between $12–15 million per unit and has a range of over 3,700 km.
- The Ghost Shark, an extra-large autonomous underwater vehicle (XLAUV), began development in 2022 for the Royal Australian Navy, with a $1.7 billion investment announced last year.
- The 2026 National Defence Strategy and Integrated Investment Program will allocate $8 billion to uncrewed air systems, $4.5 billion to maritime systems, and $2.4 billion to land systems.
- The Ghost Bat was originally named 'Loyal Wingman' before being renamed to reflect its Australian-inspired design.
- The Ghost Bat can perform intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR), electronic warfare, and strike operations, with a reconfigurable nose for payloads.
- The MQ-4C Triton drone, developed by the US, will be used for maritime patrol with a range of about 15,000 km.
- The government will spend at least $2.2 billion on smaller, cheaper drones over the next decade.
- The Ghost Bat successfully fired an AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile during a trial.
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- The Ghost Bat project has cost the government about $2.3 billion since 2019, including a $1.4 billion investment in December 2025 to fast-track six operational aircraft.
- Defence experts like Marcus Hellyer argue Ghost Bats are a force multiplier for expensive platforms like F-35s (costing $150 million each).
- The Ghost Shark’s size, range, speed, and exact fleet quantity remain classified.
- Jennifer Parker, a maritime security expert, noted the Ghost Shark’s ISR capabilities could track underwater and potentially on land, with assumed torpedo deployment ability.
- The Ghost Bat was described as 'low-cost, expendable' by the government, though it is more expensive than cheap, mass-produced drones used in other conflicts.
- The Guardian included unrelated news about immigration policy, a new Roman Catholic cathedral in Sydney, and a fuel crisis affecting food supply to hospitals.
- The Guardian mentioned a Trump-style social media vetting process proposed by the opposition for immigration checks, citing Angus Taylor’s comments.
- The Guardian reported on a 37-year-old woman charged for disruptive behavior on an international flight to Thailand, diverting it to Perth.
- The Ghost Bat and Ghost Shark are considered world-leading in AI use, sparking foreign military interest for potential exports.
- Air systems will receive the bulk of new funding at $8.1 billion, with maritime systems at $4.5 billion and land systems at $2.4 billion.
Where the reporting differs
Details that conflict, or appear in only some outlets:
- The ABC states the total drone spending increase is $2–5 billion, while NewsComAu states the total spending over the decade is up to $15 billion without specifying the exact increase from 2024.
- The Guardian mentions a $2–5 billion increase in spending but does not specify the total decade-long budget, while NewsComAu states the total allocation is up to $15 billion.
- The ABC and NewsComAu both mention the Ghost Bat’s cost range ($12–15 million), but only the ABC provides the exact figure of $2.3 billion spent since 2019, which is not confirmed by other sources.
Source Articles
Australia enters drone warfare era with Ghost Bat and Ghost Shark
Australia is on a push to keep pace with the rapid evolution of drone warfare, with an emphasis on locally produced Ghost Bat and Ghost Shark systems.
Government announces billions in spending on military drones
Defence Minister Richard Marles says expanding Australia's fleet of autonomous and uncrewed systems will help keep the nation safe and boost Australia's sovereign defence industry.
Australia news live: Labor to boost spending on military drones; suspected crocodile remains found on Adelaide roadside
Richard Marles says between $2bn and $5bn will be spent on uncrewed and autonomous capabilities Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Sydney is getting its first new Roman Catholic Cathedral in more than a century, part of a massive 7.7-hectare integrated precinct in the northern suburb of Waitara. Irish architect Niall McLaughlin, winner of the Royal Institute of British Architects’ Royal Gold Medal, will lead the design. The new cathedral is expected to be a unifying for
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