Anduril Opens Sydney Factory to Build Ghost Shark Undersea Drones
New Australian facility launched to produce autonomous Ghost Shark drones under a A$1.7 billion contract for the Royal Australian Navy
A U.S. defence-technology company has officially opened a new 7,400-square-metre manufacturing facility in Sydney to produce its “Ghost Shark” autonomous undersea drones under a A$1.7 billion (US$1.1 billion) contract with the Australian Government.
The contract, announced in September, spans a five-year production programme for the Ghost Shark extra-large autonomous under-water vehicles (XL-AUVs) for the Royal Australian Navy and allied markets.
The first vehicle has already been completed ahead of schedule and is now undergoing in-water testing ahead of a planned delivery in January 2026.
Built by Anduril Industries’s Australian arm, the plant is expected to ramp up to full-scale production in 2026 and create approximately 150 skilled jobs.
In addition, more than 40 Australian small- and medium-sized enterprises will supply parts, components and services for the programme, strengthening the local defence supply chain.
Reflecting its broader strategic ambition, the builder noted that drones may be exported to the United States and other allied nations subject to government approval.
Australian Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy said the project will enhance domestic manufacturing capability and deliver well-paid, high-skill jobs.
Anduril Australia’s CEO David Goodrich described the occasion as “a defining moment in our mission to bring sovereign undersea capability to Australia.” The Ghost Shark programme is a central pillar of Australia’s focus on maritime autonomy and long-range undersea deterrence in the Indo-Pacific, complementing the navy’s future surface and submarine fleets.
As the facility begins low-rate initial production, full-rate manufacturing is expected to commence in the coming year.
The initiative underscores Australia’s strategic commitment to developing sovereign defence-industry capacity and delivering advanced autonomous systems at pace.
The contract, announced in September, spans a five-year production programme for the Ghost Shark extra-large autonomous under-water vehicles (XL-AUVs) for the Royal Australian Navy and allied markets.
The first vehicle has already been completed ahead of schedule and is now undergoing in-water testing ahead of a planned delivery in January 2026.
Built by Anduril Industries’s Australian arm, the plant is expected to ramp up to full-scale production in 2026 and create approximately 150 skilled jobs.
In addition, more than 40 Australian small- and medium-sized enterprises will supply parts, components and services for the programme, strengthening the local defence supply chain.
Reflecting its broader strategic ambition, the builder noted that drones may be exported to the United States and other allied nations subject to government approval.
Australian Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy said the project will enhance domestic manufacturing capability and deliver well-paid, high-skill jobs.
Anduril Australia’s CEO David Goodrich described the occasion as “a defining moment in our mission to bring sovereign undersea capability to Australia.” The Ghost Shark programme is a central pillar of Australia’s focus on maritime autonomy and long-range undersea deterrence in the Indo-Pacific, complementing the navy’s future surface and submarine fleets.
As the facility begins low-rate initial production, full-rate manufacturing is expected to commence in the coming year.
The initiative underscores Australia’s strategic commitment to developing sovereign defence-industry capacity and delivering advanced autonomous systems at pace.
AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
