The Australian government has announced a $1.7 billion investment to create a new fleet of Ghost Shark autonomous underwater vehicles for the Royal Navy.
The five-year contract was signed with Anduril Australia and covers the supply, maintenance and further development of the Ghost Shark platform.
The move aligns with the priorities set out in Australia’s 2024 National Defense Strategy.
The Ghost Shark can operate at depths of up to 6,000 meters and remain submerged for up to 10 days.
The government has previously invested about $140 million in the platform’s development, combat modules and production infrastructure.
The project involves more than 40 Australian companies and is expected to create about 600 new jobs.
Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy said all three Ghost Shark prototypes were delivered on time and on budget.
