Anduril Ghost Shark: Autonomous XL-AUV with 6,000m Depth & A$1.7B Program
Artist impression of the Ghost Shark XLAUV. (Credit: Anduril Industries)
The Ghost Shark is not just another underwater drone; it is a paradigm shift in naval warfare. Developed by Anduril Industries for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), this Extra-Large Autonomous Undersea Vehicle (XL-AUV) is designed to be stealthy, long-endurance, and weaponizable. As of March 2026, the first production vehicle is preparing for delivery, with a A$1.7 billion program of record underway. Here is the complete technical breakdown.
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1. Program Background: From Dive-LD to Ghost Shark
The Ghost Shark program began in 2021 as a A$140 million (~$100 million USD) co-development contract between Anduril Australia, the Royal Australian Navy, and the Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG). The goal was to design and build three XL-AUV prototypes in just three years—an aggressive timeline for defense acquisition.
- Prototype 1 (Dive-LD): Unveiled December 2022, used as a testbed for software and payloads.
- Program Status: All three prototypes delivered ahead of schedule and on budget by 2025.
- Current Phase: A$1.7 billion (~$1.1 billion) Program of Record signed in late 2025 for full-rate production.
- First Delivery: The first production Ghost Shark is scheduled to be handed over to the RAN in early 2026.
The program's speed and success have caught the attention of the US Navy, which selected Anduril's related Dive-XL platform for its own Combat Autonomous Maritime Platform (CAMP) project in March 2026.
2. Dive-LD Prototype Specifications
The initial Ghost Shark prototype, known as Dive-LD (Large Displacement), serves as the technological foundation. Its specifications are verified and impressive:
| Specification | Dive-LD (Prototype) |
|---|---|
| Length | 5.8 meters (19 ft) |
| Diameter / Beam | 1.2 meters (3.9 ft) |
| Weight | 2.8 metric tons |
| Max Depth | 6,000 meters (19,685 ft) |
| Speed | ~13 km/h (7 knots) |
| Endurance | Up to 10 days |
| Range | ~580 km (313 nautical miles) |
Anduril Ghost Shark at a ceremony in Sydney. (Credit: Anduril)
3. Ghost Shark (Dive-XL) Production Specs
The production Ghost Shark is based on the Dive-XL variant. While some specifics remain classified, the following data has been released by Anduril and the Australian MoD:
- Size: Significantly larger than the Dive-LD prototype; described as being the size of a "school bus" (estimated 10-12 meters).
- Range: Designed for "long-range" missions, with the US Navy's Dive-XL variant required to exceed 1,000 nautical miles (~1,850 km).
- Depth Rating: Likely maintains the 6,000m+ depth capability for deep-sea operations.
- Modular Payload Bay: Designed to carry various mission payloads, including sensors, mine countermeasures, and potentially torpedoes.
4. Autonomy & Software: Lattice OS
The Ghost Shark is powered by Anduril's Lattice operating system, which acts as a "digital twin" for the vehicle. Lattice enables:
- Sensor Fusion: Integrates data from multiple onboard sensors (sonar, radar, etc.) into a single battlefield picture.
- Autonomous Navigation: Can operate without GPS, using terrain-mapping and inertial navigation for extended periods.
- Swarm Coordination: Future capabilities include coordinating multiple Ghost Sharks and other platforms for distributed effects.
TECH INSIGHT: Digital Twin Architecture
The Ghost Shark exists in the physical world and as a "digital twin" in the cloud. This allows operators to simulate missions, predict maintenance needs, and update software without pulling the vehicle from deployment. It's the same principle used by the B-21 Raider.
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5. Strategic Role & US Navy Connection
The Ghost Shark's success in Australia has directly influenced US Navy planning. In March 2026, the US Navy announced that Anduril's Dive-XL had been selected for the Combat Autonomous Maritime Platform (CAMP) program. This means the Ghost Shark's larger sibling will soon operate alongside the US fleet, performing missions such as:
- Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR): Long-duration underwater surveillance.
- Mine Countermeasures: Detecting and neutralizing naval mines.
- Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW): Tracking adversary submarines.
- Strike Missions: Potential future integration with torpedoes or loitering munitions.
Conclusion: The Subsea Arsenal
The Anduril Ghost Shark represents a fundamental shift in underwater warfare. It is not a traditional submarine, but an autonomous, software-defined, and weaponizable vehicle that can be produced at scale. With Australia committing to a A$1.7 billion fleet and the US Navy following suit, the Ghost Shark is set to become the backbone of allied subsea dominance in the Pacific. It proves that the future of naval power lies not in larger hulls, but in smarter, faster, and more autonomous systems.
Source: Anduril Industries | Royal Australian Navy | US Navy | Speedo Science Database
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