Australia builds a layered underwater network using drones, sonar, and AI to detect Chinese submarines and protect critical infrastructure.
Australia is developing an integrated undersea detection network aimed at monitoring its northern approaches and safeguarding critical infrastructure, officials confirmed. The system will combine seabed sensor nodes, autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), uncrewed surface vessels (USVs), towed sonar arrays, and AI-driven data fusion.
Industry partners including Thales Australia, Austral, C2 Robotics, and Anduril Australia are working alongside defense research agencies to build the network, which aligns with the Australia-United Kingdom-United States (AUKUS) alliance.
“The passive acoustics will act as Australia’s ears under the sea,” a defense official said. “They can listen for submarines, ships, torpedoes, and other underwater vehicles without revealing themselves.” Active sonar systems will complement passive sensors, pinging suspicious contacts when necessary.
The system is designed to detect hostile Chinese submarines and protect undersea cables, ensuring near-real-time maritime situational awareness. Australian military leaders have flagged undersea vulnerabilities as an existential risk, making the project a cornerstone of national security in the Indo-Pacific.
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