Unveiled: Defence’s new fleet of armed, solar-powered spy boats
The $126 million acquisition of 40 autonomous vessels will help the navy carry out more intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions.
Michael ReadForeign affairs and defence correspondent
A small, solar-powered vessel bobbing quietly on the ocean might look harmless, but Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy says it should be seen as a warning to stay away.
“Just as when you see at one of our beaches a bluebottle jellyfish, that’s a signal to get out of the ocean, I want potential adversaries to realise when they see one of these, it’s a signal to get out of our ocean,” said Conroy.
