Defence is accelerating the transition into production of the Ghost Shark Extra Large Uncrewed Underwater Vehicle (XLUUV).
Defence and Anduril Australia have entered into a co-funded early works contract for the Ghost Shark program which will provide the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) with a long-range autonomous vehicle that will deliver a cost-effective, persistent intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and strike undersea capability.
The Government is co-investing $20.1 million alongside Anduril Australia, which 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.
Separately, Defence previously invested $70 million into the initial co-development program. As of August 2024, Defence has invested a total of $90.1 million into the Ghost Shark program.
"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 the Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator (ASCA), Professor Emily Hilder.
Anduril Australia will construct a manufacturing facility that will see the first production variant of the Ghost Shark available by the end of 2025.
The company will construct the facility in Australia with a factory capable of manufacturing Ghost Sharks for Defence, export partners, and commercial operators.
The early works contract will also facilitate investment into the Australian industry supply chain so it can grow and scale alongside Anduril Australia. Around 42 Australian companies are part of the Ghost Shark supply chain.