Anduril’s Ghost Shark Autonomous Undersea Vehicle Arrives in U.S. for the First Time

The Ghost Shark, an advanced Extra-Large Autonomous Undersea Vehicle (XL-AUV) developed by Anduril, arrived in the United States for the first time on August 20.

Transported via a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) C-17A, this marks an important step in expanding the testing capabilities of the Ghost Shark, allowing for concurrent trials on both sides of the Pacific and facilitating collaboration with U.S. government partners.

Designed and manufactured in Australia, the Ghost Shark was transported to the U.S. in coordination with Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC), a major maritime exercise near the Hawaiian Islands. The vehicle is intended to support subsea maritime missions globally, offering a modular and multi-purpose capability that can adapt to various mission requirements. 

This deployment follows the earlier unveiling of the first Ghost Shark prototype in Australia, which was completed a year ahead of schedule. The development is part of a co-development contract signed in 2022 between Anduril, the Royal Australian Navy, and the Defence Science and Technology Group. The contract aims to produce three Ghost Shark XL-AUVs by June 2025, with the goal of enhancing the Australian Defence Force’s (ADF) undersea warfare capabilities.

The Ghost Shark project is part of a broader effort to develop autonomous underwater vehicles that can provide a low-cost, multi-role alternative to traditional submarine and surface forces. The vehicle’s arrival in the U.S. underscores Anduril’s commitment to advancing undersea capabilities through rapid development and testing.