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Anduril Industries has made a significant stride in Australia's maritime defense capabilities with the unveiling of the first of three Ghost Shark extra-large autonomous undersea vehicles. The project, valued at 140 million Australian dollars ($100 million), has been announced as both ahead of schedule and under budget.

Partnering with the Australian Defence Department, Anduril is tasked with the design, development, and construction of these submarines for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), with delivery slated for 2025.

"We're making rapid progress on this program in close collaboration with our ASCA (Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator), DSTG (Defence Science and Technology Group), and RAN partners," remarked David Goodrich, CEO of Anduril Australia.

The modular submarine is poised to offer stealth capabilities and long-range autonomous operations, facilitating persistent intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and strike missions.

The early prototype of Ghost Shark, unveiled in December 2022, demonstrated capabilities at depths of around 19,685 feet (6,000 meters) and endurance underwater for up to 10 days.

"Ghost Shark's extensive range, stealth features, and persistent operational capabilities will enable deployment throughout the Indo-Pacific region," noted Rear Adm. Peter Quinn in 2022.

Designed with modularity and multi-role functionality, Ghost Shark ensures adversaries must consider continual surveillance and the potential deployment of various effects, including lethal ones, in the maritime domain.

This initiative forms part of the Australian government's substantial investment of 7.2 billion Australian dollars ($4.62 billion) in enhancing subsea warfare capabilities and integrating new autonomous and uncrewed maritime vehicles into its defense strategy.

Notably, this entirely indigenous project engages 10 Australian companies collaborating with Anduril, with an additional 42 companies benefiting from participation in the supply chain.

"For Ghost Shark, we've assembled a highly skilled engineering team of 121 individuals drawn from Australia's top talent across technology, resources, and defense sectors," highlighted Shane Arnott, Senior Vice President of Engineering at Anduril Industries.

"With 42 Australian companies currently involved in the Ghost Shark project, our focus remains on designing, engineering, and manufacturing these vehicles in Australia. Our long-term vision includes scaling up production to cater to the needs of the Royal Australian Navy and eventually exporting to allied nations and partners worldwide."

The Ghost Shark project stands as a testament to Australia's commitment to bolstering its defense capabilities through innovation, collaboration, and indigenous expertise.