First ‘Ghost Shark’ Unmanned Underwater Vehicle Rolls Off the Production Line
Udumbara
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An unmanned submarine—called an Extra Large Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (XL-AUV) or “Ghost Shark”—has rolled off the production line just 3 years after it was first mooted.
Neither Anduril nor the Australian Defence Force (ADF) has specified an exact number.
The AUVs are being manufactured at a 7,400 m² purpose-built facility in Sydney, which incorporates integrated robotic production, AI-guided ground vehicles, and a custom-built test tank buoyancy, electrical systems and safety before sea trials.
Three prototypes have already been delivered on budget and ahead of schedule as part of a $140 million co-development contract to design and develop three Ghost Shark XL-AUVs in 3 years.
The first production variant, which was completed on Oct. 31 is already undergoing testing and is due to be delivered to the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) in January next year.
The new facility is purpose-built to produce Ghost Shark and its commercial baseline, the Dive-XL, at scale. Subject to government approval, Anduril says the AUVs will also be exported to “allies and partners around the world.”
The company expects the facility to increase Ghost Shark production to full-scale levels in 2026, up from the current low-rate levels.
Officially opening the factory, Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy said “a significant part” of the $70 billion in additional defence spending over the next decade announced by the Albanese government would be spent on building Australia’s sea power.
“We’re equipping our navy with new and enhanced missile capabilities, acquiring the upgraded Mogami class frigate, and importantly, we’re delivering these capabilities at pace. We have delivered Naval Strike Missile, Tomahawk and Standard Missile 6 to the Navy, years ahead of what was previously planned,” he said.
“This has provided the Navy with greater firepower and a tenfold increase to its maximum weapon range, holding potential adversaries at risk at greater distances.
“Ghost Shark is an exemplar of how the government and Defence are partnering with innovative companies to rapidly deliver capability to the warfighter,” Conroy said.
Anduril’s CEO and Chairman for Australia David Goodrich said completion of the first production variant “marks a defining moment in our mission to bring sovereign undersea capability to Australia. With the opening of this new facility, we are not only building local infrastructure and workforce—we are investing in innovation, in partnerships, and in the future defence of our nation.”
