In a major boost for Australia's sovereign defence capabilities, an revolutionary drone submarine designed and built locally is poised to transform the nation's maritime security. Exclusive footage obtained by 7NEWS shows the mini-sub, named Speartooth, in its final stages of testing at a secret location.
A Stealthy, Long-Range Underwater Truck
Measuring just eight metres long, the Speartooth is a formidable piece of technology with a remarkable operational range of 2000 kilometres. Marcus Hellyer from the makers, C2 Robotics, described the four-year development project as creating a "very stealthy, very reliable long-range underwater truck."
The autonomous submarine operates without any crew onboard and can be deployed for months at a time. Its payload capacity is versatile, designed to carry everything from drones and explosives to advanced surveillance electronics, providing the Australian Defence Force with persistent, undetectable presence in its vast waters.
Affordable Defence at a Critical Time
With the multi-billion dollar AUKUS submarines still years away from deployment, the Speartooth offers an immediate and cost-effective solution. Priced at just $1 million per unit, it represents a fraction of the cost of traditional naval assets.
"So we can potentially have hundreds of these assets in the water," Hellyer stated, highlighting the strategic advantage of being able to deploy a swarm of these vessels. This capability could potentially recreate a maritime version of the successful drone swarm tactics seen in other global conflicts.
Adding to its advanced capabilities, the Speartooth is believed to possess sophisticated electronic warfare systems, allowing it to disguise its acoustic signature and mimic other vessels, such as a Chinese submarine.
Securing Australia's Vast Waters
The strategic importance of such a vessel was underscored by Gavin Henry from the defence company Thales Australia, which is confirmed to be involved in the project. "We've got to know what's in our waters. It's really important that we understand who is in our waters and why," Henry explained.
This development cements Australia's world-leading role in autonomous submarine technology, complementing the larger Ghost Shark drone submarine already commissioned. While Thales remained tight-lipped about specific operational details, the message from C2 Robotics was clear. As Marcus Hellyer put it, "It's not the future. It is the present."
