The Australian Government is investing A$1.7bn ($1.12bn) on a new fleet of extra-large autonomous undersea vehicles (XL-AUVs) intended for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).
Named Ghost Shark, these vehicles are to be designed and built in the country.
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The contract, awarded to Anduril Australia, encompasses the delivery, maintenance, and ongoing development of the Ghost Shark over the next five years.
The Ghost Shark is an advanced platform engineered to perform a variety of tasks including intelligence gathering, surveillance, reconnaissance, and strike operations, “stealthily and at long range”.
Once delivered, these vehicles are expected to complement the RAN’s future surface combatant fleet and its conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarines.
The deal builds upon an earlier investment of approximately A$140m by the Australian Government in the development of the Ghost Shark platform, its payloads, and production facilities since signing a collaborative contract with Anduril in 2022.
The five-year contract will not only support around 120 existing jobs but also generate more than 150 new “highly-skilled” positions at Anduril Australia.
More than 40 Australian companies are now part of the Ghost Shark supply chain, potentially creating an additional 600 jobs due to this investment, according to the Australian government press release.
The deployment of uncrewed undersea and surface vessels is expected to provide the Australian Defence Force with an “asymmetric capability advantage”, which is a strategic objective highlighted in the 2024 National Defence Strategy.
Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles stated: “The Albanese Government’s investments in the Ghost Shark are fast-charging the development of long‑range, undersea autonomous vehicles for our Navy while also backing Australian businesses.
“Over the next five years and beyond the Ghost Shark will equip Navy with the intelligence, surveillance and strike capabilities it needs in an increasingly complex strategic environment.”
Anduril debuted the Ghost Shark XL-AUV prototype in April 2024. The XL-AUV was transported to the US aboard a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) C-17A in August the same year.
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