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Anduril Australia’s autonomous undersea capability Ghost Shark will become Mission 0 for the Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator (ASCA), providing the Royal Australian Navy with a long-range autonomous undersea warfare capability.
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Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy has today (18 April) announced that the Ghost Shark program, jointly developed and funded by Defence and Anduril Australia, has been selected for ASCA’s Mission 0.
The program is now expected to provide the Royal Australian Navy with long-range autonomous undersea capabilities, operating across intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and strike mission profiles.
The program will fall under the federal government’s $7.2 billion commitment for development and acquisition of subsea capabilities, the Commonwealth confirmed.
According to a release from Minister Conroy, 10 local companies have partnered with Anduril Australia for the delivery of the capability with 42 benefiting across the supply chain.
Minister Conroy explained that the Ghost Shark program demonstrates the benefits of Defence and industry collaboration.
“Ghost Shark is an exemplar of how Defence and Australian industry can move at speed to develop new sovereign capabilities to respond to the challenges before us,” Minister Conroy outlined.
“By transitioning Ghost Shark to ASCA, a clear statement is being made about Defence’s commitment to the program.
“ASCA is focused on speeding up the transition of innovation into capability that will give our Australian Defence Force an edge, while creating more jobs for Australians commercialising the technology.”
The Ghost Shark program is an example that public-private partnerships can ensure Australia overcomes Defence’s most prominent challenges, Professor Emily Hilder, head of ASCA said.
“ASCA missions address strategically directed priorities that focus on rapidly delivering asymmetric capabilities to Defence,” Hilder said.
“The co-funded and collaborative contract between Anduril Australia and Defence is a fast and innovative way for Defence to pursue new technology that directly relates to capability needs. ASCA wants to hear from Australian companies with solutions to Defence’s biggest challenges.”
