Defence to accelerate Ghost Shark production

Defence is accelerating production of the Ghost Shark by part-funding with Anduril Australia a manufacturing facility in Australia that will see the first production variant of the Ghost Shark Extra Large Autonomous Undersea Vehicle (XL-AUV) available by the end of 2025.

Defence and Anduril Australia have signed an early works contract for the Ghost Shark program which will provide the RAN with a long-range autonomous vehicle that will deliver a cost-effective, persistent Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance (ISR) and strike undersea capability.

Defence will co-invest $20.1 million and Anduril Australia will contribute more than $20.1 million to scale the sovereign supply chain and build infrastructure to transition the Ghost Shark program from prototype development to production. Anduril Australia will construct a factory capable of manufacturing Ghost Sharks for Defence and our international partners, as well as a commercial variant.

To date, Defence has invested $90.1 million in the program.

“Defence is incentivising industry to make substantial capital investments,” said Minister for Defence Industry and capability Delivery Pat Conroy. “Contracts like this help scale Australian industrial capacity and deliver sophisticated defence capability, while bringing more investment and jobs into the Australian economy.

“The Ghost Shark program exemplifies how Australia’s defence industry can develop cutting edge technology and deliver at pace.”

The Royal Australian Navy, Defence Science and Technology Group and Anduril Australia have co-designed the Ghost Shark prototypes. The Ghost Shark program is being progressed with the support of the Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator (ASCA).

“The co-funded early works contract between Anduril Australia and Defence will accelerate production readiness of the Ghost Shark program as well as scale the Australian supply chain at an unprecedented pace,” said the Head of ASCA, Professor Emily Hilder. ASCA has taken over Defence’s portion of funding responsibility for Ghost Shark from the Next Generation Technologies Fund (NGTF).

“Ghost Shark is a powerful example of how ASCA can help accelerate capability to our warfighters, bringing together parts of the Defence enterprise as well as Anduril Australia, to help deliver an asymmetric advantage.”

The early works contract will also facilitate investment into the Australian industry supply chain so it can grow and scale alongside Anduril Australia. As many as 42 Australian companies are part of the Ghost Shark supply chain.

“Ghost Shark has been specifically designed for manufacturability, mass production and flexibility to create supply chain resilience,” said Australia’s Chief Defence Scientist, Professor Tanya Monro AC.

The Ghost Shark is part of Defence’s investment of up to $7 billion for the development and acquisition of undersea warfare capabilities and new autonomous and uncrewed maritime vehicles.