Australia's $12B Drone Push: Ghost Bat, Ghost Shark, Counter-Drones

0:00Australia's defense is dropping at least $2 billion into drones, pulling from new funds or reprioritized projects in their upcoming, integrated investment program. That pushes total drone spending over the next decade to $12 billion. Defense Minister Richard Marles drops the full program and the 2026 National Defense Strategy this Thursday. The cash flows to big uncrewed systems like the Ghost Bat and Ghost Shark, plus a hefty 2.2 billion for smaller, cheaper drones that can. Swarm the skies. They're also ramping up counter drone tech to handle mass attacks. Conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, especially Iran's cheap Shahed drones, forcing million dollar intercepts, showed how these low-cost weapons, drain expensive defenses. Analysts say Australia needs strong protections for key sites. Local project Shine here, with Boeing Australia's Ghost Bat, already testing live fire alongside F-35 jets, drawing German interest for exports.

1:01Ghost Shark adds underwater punch, all billed by Aussie workers. This drone push keeps our forces sharp, shields critical spots, and fuels jobs in sovereign tech, putting Australia ahead in the global game. That's your Sydney News Today update, AI powered and always on.