Australian Unmanned Submarine Ghost Shark Arrives in U.S. for Joint Testing
The submarine was built by Anduril and flown on an Australian C-17 aircraft. It is designed to carry out various underwater missions as part of tests aimed at assessing its capabilities and systems in collaboration with U.S. defense entities
Photo: Anduril
The Australian unmanned submarine Ghost Shark, built by Anduril, has arrived in the U.S. for its first visit as part of a series of system and capability tests. The submarine was flown on an Australian military C-17 transport aircraft to assess its operational capabilities in collaboration with the U.S. government, defense establishment, and local industries.
The Ghost Shark is part of the extra-large autonomous underwater vehicle (XL-AUV) family and is designed to carry out a variety of underwater missions. Anduril stated to Defense Blog that the submarine is a crucial component for deep-water deterrence. In 2022, an agreement was signed between the company and the Royal Australian Navy, under which three submarines of this model will be produced, with full delivery to the navy expected by 2025, according to Pat Conroy, the Australian Minister for Defense Industry.
The U.S. Department of Defense has expressed support for the program, clarifying that a fleet of unmanned autonomous submarines is a key part of the country’s future defense strategy, complementing the capabilities of existing manned submarines and vessels.
