US firm unveils new AUV for Royal Australian Navy

US-based defence technology company Anduril Industries has completed construction of the first example of the Ghost Shark extra large autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) ordered by the Australian Department of Defence (DOD).

The AUV is the first of three that will be built under an initial AU$140 million (US$89.7 million) co-development contract between the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), the DOD’s Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG), and Anduril.

The DOD said the Ghost Shark AUVs will provide the RAN with a stealthy, long-range autonomous undersea warfare capability. Missions will include persistent intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and strike.

Anduril Australia will work in partnership with ten other Australian companies for the local manufacture of future examples of the AUV.