The Ghost Shark XLAUV is about the size of a bus and can operate autonomously on underwater surveillance or strike missions. Photo: ADF.
The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) will soon be equipped with a fleet of extra-large autonomous underwater vehicles (XLAUV) after the Australian Government committed to bringing a fleet of the revolutionary vessels into operational service.
The Anduril Ghost Shark has been under joint development with the RAN since 2022 and, to date, the government has committed $140 million to its design, testing and developing potential concepts of operation.
With the test program delivering vessels and results ahead of schedule, the government has now committed $1.7 billion under Project SEA 1200 to induct a fleet of XLAUVs into operational service.
The new capability will place the RAN at the forefront of AUV development and operational capabilities, with one industry insider claiming the Ghost Shark’s acquisition means “the Royal Australian Navy is now set to become one, if not the, world’s largest operator of autonomous undersea sea power – a historic leap forward in maritime capability and innovation”.
The first of three Ghost Shark XLAUV test vessels was unveiled in April 2024 at Sydney’s Garden Island naval base, just 18 months after the program was given the go-ahead.
The development of the bus-sized uncrewed submarine for the RAN is co-funded between the Commonwealth’s Defence Science and Technology (DST) Organisation through its Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator (ASCA) program, and manufacturer Anduril Australia.
The modular Ghost Shark XLAUV is designed to conduct autonomous intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR) and underwater maritime strike operations at long range. The government says it will deliver a significant boost to Australia’s undersea warfare capabilities by complementing the RAN’s surface combatant fleet and its future nuclear‑powered submarines (SSN).
It may also partially fill two looming capability gaps caused by the much-delayed $5 billion Collins-class submarine Life of Type Extension (LOTE) program, which will keep each of the six boats out of the water for a period of up to two years, and increasing doubts over the US’s ability to deliver Virginia-class SSNs from 2032.
While the government didn’t say how many XLAUVs would be acquired, it did say the production and sustainment of the vessels will support around 120 existing jobs and create more than 150 new jobs at Anduril Australia’s Sydney production facility, plus an additional 600 jobs at more than 40 Australian companies that supply components for the vessels.
The announcement didn’t reveal where the XLAUVs will be based, nor were any details about their proposed concepts of operations.
Defence Minister Richard Marles said the Ghost Shark is a world-leading Australian-made platform.
“The 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,” he said.
“Over the next five years and beyond, the Ghost Shark will equip the Navy with the intelligence, surveillance and strike capabilities it needs in an increasingly complex strategic environment.”
Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy said the XLAUV is a critical capability that the government is delivering at pace, and that all three prototypes delivered to date have been on budget and ahead of schedule.
“Our investment backs in 120 existing workers and creates more than 150 new high-skilled, local jobs,” he said.
“This reflects the government’s unwavering commitment to supporting Australian innovation, backing Australian workers and building a defence future made in Australia.”
In a company statement, Anduril Australia said, “Today, the Navy awarded Anduril Australia a US$1.2 billion Program of Record to deliver a fleet of Ghost Sharks, with production already underway.
“The Ghost Shark program is the direct outcome of a bold decision by the Royal Australian Navy to take on shared risk in pursuit of speed and capability,” it said.
“Rather than relying on traditional defence acquisition, the Navy co-developed and co-funded Ghost Shark with Anduril, committing significant financial and bureaucratic capital to the success of the program.
“Our shared endeavour to build Ghost Shark proves what’s possible when urgency, innovation and partnership come together. The future of undersea warfare doesn’t have to be slow, cumbersome, or exquisite.”
Original Article published by Andrew McLaughlin on PS News.
