The containerised Ghost Shark is loaded onto an RAAF C-17 transport aircraft at RAAF Base Richmond near Sydney. Photo: Anduril Australia.
The second of at least three pre-production Ghost Shark Extra Large Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (XL-AUV) has been flown to the US for additional development and testing.
Designed by Anduril and manufactured in Australia for a Royal Australian Navy requirement, the first uncrewed Ghost Shark was rolled out one year ahead of schedule in April. The program is jointly-funded by Anduril and the Commonwealth through the Defence Science and Technology (DST) Group’s Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator (ASCA) program.
The XL-AUV is a modular system that can carry different sensor or weapons payloads, and can either conduct a mission on a pre-programmed course, or can be controlled or re-tasked via a satellite link from another vessel or from a land base. It is designed to augment rather than replace crewed submarines.
Anduril signed a co-development contract with the Commonwealth in 2022 to design and develop three XL-AUVs by 2025. But in early August it was announced the program would be accelerated through an injection of $40.2 million funding shared by the Commonwealth and by Anduril.
The funding will enable Anduril to establish a supply chain and to build a production facility for the Ghost Shark. To date, some 42 Australian companies have supplied components for the program.
The first Ghost Shark XL-AUV was rolled out in April of this year, 12 months ahead of schedule. Photo: Anduril Australia.
The second Ghost Shark was packed into a container and flown to the US on a Royal Australian Air Force C-17A transport aircraft, demonstrating the versatility of the platform and its ability to be rapidly deployed. The deployment coincided with the biennial Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) naval exercises in Hawaii, but it is unclear if the XL-AUV participated in the exercises in any capacity.
Testing and development will be conducted concurrently in Australia and the US in collaboration with US government partners and should lead to faster outcomes and the potential for a more rapid entry into operational service.
