Australia's navy will begin operating long-range lethal underwater drones from January next year, after the government confirmed it will spend $1.7 billion to locally build a fleet.

The drones, known as "Ghost Sharks", will be capable of intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and strike operations.

As the United States reviews the $368 billion AUKUS defence pact, which will enable Australia to acquire US nuclear-powered submarines by the 2030s, Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles said the Ghost Shark would complement, not replace, the alliance.

"Ghost Shark operates in conjunction with it, that's the point that I made up front. It also works in conjunction with our surface fleet, in what is clear is that going forward nations will need to have an autonomous military capability and

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