MELBOURNE — Australia is taking the plunge into the unmanned underwater space, announcing it signed a contract with Anduril for its Ghost Shark Extra Large Autonomous Undersea Vehicle (XL-AUV).
Australia will invest 1.7 billion AUD (1.13 billion USD) for the delivery, maintenance and continued development of the Ghost Shark in Australia over the next five years, according to a news release today issued by the Australian Department of Defence.
The release did not state how many Ghost Sharks will be acquired under this first tranche of acquisitions, although Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles said during a press conference today in Sydney that “dozens” will be acquired for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) with the first to enter service in January 2026.
Australia plans to use the platform for stealthy long-range intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and strike operations, complementing its future surface combatant fleet as well as the nuclear‑powered submarines that will be delivered under the AUKUS pact. Anduril said in a statement of its own that the Ghost Shark will also be able to conduct coastal defense patrols and area-wide domain awareness powered by artificial intelligence at scale.
“Success in this effort would be a landmark opportunity to demonstrate the potential of autonomous seapower to address clear and urgent national security problems,” Anduril’s statement reads.
The Ghost Shark will also be a deployable platform, with Australian Navy Chief Vice Adm. Mark Hammond telling reporters at today’s press conference that the XL-AUVs can be operated from shore, on board another ship, and are transportable by aircraft such as the C-17 airlifter.
Anduril had originally signed a co-development contract with the RAN and Australia’s Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG) in May 2022 to produce three prototype XL-AUVs over three years. The first prototype Ghost Shark was delivered in 2024, with the program completing the deliveries on budget and on time.
Trials were conducted using the XL-AUV in Australia following the delivery of the first vessel, with one being flown to Hawaii on board a C-17 in July for the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) military exercise.
Anduril says that the Ghost Shark is powered by an all-electric powertrain capable of executing long-range, long-duration missions without surfacing, preserving stealth and increasing time on mission.
It will be able to carry multiple distinct mission payloads designed and delivered as part of the Australian R&D program, and David Goodrich, executive chairman and chief executive at Anduril Australia said at the press conference the development of its capabilities will continue.
“Ghost Shark will continue to evolve, as it must, with new payloads, new weapons, smarter autonomy and adapting to the emerging threats,” Goodrich said.