First Ghost Shark Swims Off Anduril’s New Australian Factory Floor
Anduril Australia officially launched its new 7,400m² Ghost Shark manufacturing facility in Sydney on 31 October 2025. The site will produce extra-large autonomous underwater vehicles (XLAUVs) for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).
The opening, attended by Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy and Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Mark Hammond, marked the rollout of the first series-produced Ghost Shark ahead of schedule. This achievement follows just seven weeks after the RAN’s A$1.7 billion (US$1.1 billion) contract with Anduril for a fleet of these vessels.
“The Ghost Shark is the most high-tech, long-range autonomous underwater capability that exists in the world today,”
The first Ghost Shark is now entering in-water testing and is expected to be delivered to the RAN by January 2026. Additional XLAUVs will follow over the next five years as production ramps up to full capacity in 2026.
This project “is an exemplar of how the government and Defence are partnering with innovative companies to rapidly deliver capability to the warfighter.”
Before this major contract, Anduril Australia had already created three Ghost Shark prototypes under a three-year A$140 million (US$92 million) development program.
Author’s Summary
Anduril’s new Sydney facility marks a major leap in Australia’s autonomous naval technology, delivering the Ghost Shark fleet ahead of schedule for the Royal Australian Navy.