The Australian Government has announced a $1.7 billion investment to equip the Royal Australian Navy with a fleet of Australian-designed and manufactured autonomous undersea vehicles, known as the Ghost Shark.
In a media release, Defence confirmed it has signed a five-year contract with Anduril Australia for the delivery, maintenance, and continued development of the extra-large uncrewed vehicles.
The government said the Ghost Shark is designed for long-range intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and strike operations, enhancing the Navy’s undersea warfare capabilities and complementing future surface combatants and conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines.
Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said the investment underscored the Government’s commitment to strengthening Australia’s sovereign defence manufacturing capability.
“The Ghost Shark is a world-leading platform made right here in Australia,” Marles said. “Over the next five years and beyond the Ghost Shark will equip Navy with the intelligence, surveillance and strike capabilities it needs in an increasingly complex strategic environment.”
The Government said this investment builds on the $140 million already committed to the program since 2022, which supported the development of the platform, payloads, and production facilities.
More than 40 Australian companies are now part of the Ghost Shark supply chain, with Defence highlighting the project as an example of how local industry and workforce skills are central to delivering critical defence capability.
Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy said the project is delivering results ahead of expectations. “This is a critical capability that the Albanese Government is delivering at pace – with all three prototypes delivered on budget and ahead of schedule,” Conroy said.
“Our investment backs in 120 existing workers and creates more than 150 new high-skilled, local jobs. This reflects the Albanese Government’s unwavering commitment to supporting Australian innovation, backing Australian workers and building a defence future made in Australia.”
The Government estimates that the wider supply chain will add a further 600 jobs across Australian manufacturing and technology companies.
It said the continued investment offers not only a pathway for sovereign design, engineering, and manufacturing of undersea defence systems but also the potential for future export opportunities.
According to the Government, uncrewed undersea and surface vessels are expected to give the Australian Defence Force an asymmetric capability advantage, a key priority outlined in the 2024 National Defence Strategy.
