Anduril Ghost Shark XL-AUV
Overview
Australia signs a contract with Anduril for Ghost Shark to accelerate an indigenous Extra-Large Autonomous Undersea Vehicle (XL-AUV) for the Royal Australian Navy. Canberra will invest AUD 1.7 billion (USD 1.13 billion) over five years to deliver, sustain, and upgrade the fleet. Moreover, officials expect the first boats to enter service in January 2026.
Investment, Quantity, and Timeline
Australia signs a contract with Anduril for Ghost Shark, which is a multi-year programme rather than a one-off purchase. While Defence has not disclosed exact numbers, leaders said “dozens” were planned. Consequently, the contract secures funding for delivery, maintenance, and ongoing development until the mid-2020s.
Mission Set and AUKUS Alignment
Australia signs a contract with Anduril for Ghost Shark to perform long-range, stealthy intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and strike. Crucially, the XL-AUV will complement future surface combatants and AUKUS nuclear-powered submarines. Anduril also prioritises broad maritime domain awareness and coastal defence patrols, both of which are fuelled by scalable AI.
Deployability and Basing Options
Australia signs a contract with Anduril for “Ghost Shark” to maximise operational flexibility. The XL-AUV can launch from shore facilities or from suitable vessels, enhancing dispersed operations. Furthermore, it is air-transportable (C-17), which enables rapid movement to theatres and allied exercises.
Development Track and Prototyping
Australia signs a contract with Anduril for the Ghost Shark after a rapid co-development phase with the Navy and the Defence Science and Technology Group. The partners kicked off in May 2022 to build three prototypes in three years. Notably, the first prototype arrived in 2024, on time and on budget, with subsequent trials validating performance.
Trials and Exercise Exposure
Australia signs a contract with Anduril for Ghost Shark following successful Australian trials and international exposure. In July, a prototype flew aboard a C-17 to Hawaii for RIMPAC, demonstrating speed of deployment. Therefore, the XL-AUV has already operated in realistic multinational exercise conditions.
Power, Payloads, and Modularity
Australia signs a contract with Anduril for Ghost Shark to field an all-electric powertrain for long-range, long-duration missions without surfacing. This preserves stealth and increases time on task. Moreover, modular bays will host multiple payloads—from ISR sensors to weapons—allowing spiral upgrades under Australia’s R&D programme.
Autonomy, Evolution, and Industrial Impact
Australia signs a contract with Anduril for Ghost Shark to leverage smarter autonomy on a large scale. As threats evolve, the platform will integrate new payloads, improved decision support, and advanced effectors. As a result, the programme strengthens sovereign industries, shortens upgrade cycles, and showcases autonomous seapower for urgent security needs.
References
- Australian Department of Defence – Newsroom: https://www.defence.gov.au/news-events
- Anduril Industries – Ghost Shark / XL-AUV overview: https://www.anduril.com/
- Royal Australian Navy – Official site: https://www.navy.gov.au/
- U.S. Navy RIMPAC (exercise information): https://www.cpf.navy.mil/rimpac/
