The Australian government will provide $13 million to co-fund Anduril Australia’s Ghost Shark program, which aims to develop an autonomous vehicle for undersea intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and strike missions.
Anduril is co-investing over $13 million in the program’s early works contract with the Department of Defence.
The first manufactured prototype of Ghost Shark was unveiled in April following Anduril’s $90 million contract for the underwater drone’s development.
The co-funding scheme is designed to scale Ghost Shark’s sovereign supply chain and fund the infrastructure to move the program from prototype to production. The government expects the early works contract to spur investments in 42 local companies within the Ghost Shark supply chain.
The drone manufacturing facility will be built in Australia, and the first Ghost Shark variant is expected by the end of 2025. The factory will be geared toward manufacturing underwater drones for both the Australian Defence Force and the country’s allies.
Pat Conroy, minister for the defense industry, called the contract an incentive for companies to invest, create jobs and help develop sophisticated defense capabilities. “The Ghost Shark program exemplifies how Australia’s defense industry can develop cutting-edge technology and deliver at pace,” he said.