The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) has taken a decisive step toward the future of undersea warfare by awarding Anduril Australia a contract worth more than US$ 1.11 billion for the serial production of Ghost Shark autonomous submarines, a large unmanned system that will move from prototype to operational fleet in less than three years.
The Ghost Shark is an extra-large autonomous underwater vehicle (XL-AUV) designed for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR), and coastal patrol missions. Its ability to operate covertly and for extended periods in high-threat environments makes it a key force multiplier amid growing strategic competition in the Indo-Pacific.
In April 2024, the first Ghost Shark prototype was unveiled, developed under an initial US$ 90 million contract covering three test units. The project was driven by collaboration between the RAN, the Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator (ASCA), the Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG), and more than 40 Australian companies.
This approach allowed agile development methodologies to be applied, drastically reducing traditional military acquisition timelines. In just two years since Anduril’s acquisition of Dive Technologies, Ghost Shark went from concept to working prototype, and now to a fleet program.
Manufacturing will take place at a robotic XL-AUV facility in Australia, with an additional US$ 60 million investment from Anduril to ensure fully sovereign production. This risk-sharing model between industry and the armed forces has been key to accelerating the process and reducing costs.
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