Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy said in Sydney on Monday that three payloads had been approved following secret trials to carry out tasks considered too dangerous for humans. (EPA Images pic)SYDNEY: Australia is boosting its undersea warfare capability by equipping its Ghost Shark autonomous submarine with "swarms" of aerial drones and sea mines, its defence ministry said Monday.

US defence technology start-up Anduril jointly developed the extra large submarine drone with Australia's defence scientists, and is building a Ghost Shark fleet for Canberra under a Au$1.8 billion (US$1.3 billion) contract.

The AUKUS partners of Australia, Britain and the US pledged this year to develop interchangeable payloads for drones used in undersea warfare, in addition to their nuclear submarine cooperation.