Hand over the world's oceans to AI and forget about the risks forever. Sounds good.
The United States is increasingly developing underwater unmanned systems capable of operating for months at a time far from bases without endangering the crew. The latest step in this direction is the decision by the US Navy and the Defense Innovation Unit to include Anduril in the CAMP program. The company will participate in the project with its ultra-large autonomous underwater vehicle, Dive-XL. The program is highly practical: to quickly determine whether such vehicles are suitable for real-world use and, if successful, to move on to deployment.
CAMP, the Combat Autonomous Maritime Platform Project, is dedicated to large autonomous underwater vehicles capable of long-range operations and carrying significant payloads. These will essentially be robotic submarines for missions where a conventional ship or manned submarine would be either too vulnerable or too expensive to maintain a permanent presence. For the Navy, such platforms are primarily important as a way to expand underwater capabilities without undue risk to personnel.
Anduril was selected through the Commercial Solutions Opening competition, conducted by the Defense Innovation Unit. Prior to this, the company demonstrated the Dive-XL in a demonstration that tested its range and endurance in conditions resembling real-world operations. According to Anduril, its autonomous underwater systems have already traveled over 42,000 kilometers and logged over 6,750 mission hours.
The next stage has already been determined. Within four months of receiving the contract, Anduril must conduct a long-term demonstration of the Dive-XL. The vehicle will be tested in scenarios as close as possible to actual naval missions. The company already has several such vehicles in the US, and now the Navy will be able to evaluate not only the XL-AUV concept itself but also how these vehicles perform in operational mode.
The XL-AUV (extra-large autonomous underwater vehicle) class differs significantly from smaller marine drones typically used for reconnaissance or occasional missions. The Dive-XL, on the other hand, is designed for long-range travel, extended underwater operation, and the transport of heavy payloads.
Moreover, the Dive-XL is closely linked to another company project, the Ghost Shark, which it is building for the Royal Australian Navy. The American vehicle's architecture is largely similar to the Australian design. This background allows Anduril to enter the American program not from scratch, but with existing engineering and manufacturing experience. In 2025, the company received an order in Australia for the delivery of the Ghost Shark and the construction of a separate production facility.
The Dive-XL is currently manufactured in Sydney, and Anduril operates a dedicated facility in Quonset Point, Rhode Island, designed to produce dozens of these systems annually. For the US Navy, a ready-made production base is just as important as a successful prototype. It's crucial not only for compatibility with American ships and systems, but also for the ability to work with allied and partner systems.
This is precisely why autonomous underwater vehicles are currently generating such interest. Underwater, they can conduct surveillance, reconnaissance, deterrence , and sustained presence in areas where the situation becomes too tense for continuous operation by manned platforms. Furthermore, such systems can be integrated with ships, submarines, and other unmanned vehicles.
The United States is increasingly developing underwater unmanned systems capable of operating for months at a time far from bases without endangering the crew. The latest step in this direction is the decision by the US Navy and the Defense Innovation Unit to include Anduril in the CAMP program. The company will participate in the project with its ultra-large autonomous underwater vehicle, Dive-XL. The program is highly practical: to quickly determine whether such vehicles are suitable for real-world use and, if successful, to move on to deployment.
CAMP, the Combat Autonomous Maritime Platform Project, is dedicated to large autonomous underwater vehicles capable of long-range operations and carrying significant payloads. These will essentially be robotic submarines for missions where a conventional ship or manned submarine would be either too vulnerable or too expensive to maintain a permanent presence. For the Navy, such platforms are primarily important as a way to expand underwater capabilities without undue risk to personnel.
Anduril was selected through the Commercial Solutions Opening competition, conducted by the Defense Innovation Unit. Prior to this, the company demonstrated the Dive-XL in a demonstration that tested its range and endurance in conditions resembling real-world operations. According to Anduril, its autonomous underwater systems have already traveled over 42,000 kilometers and logged over 6,750 mission hours.
The next stage has already been determined. Within four months of receiving the contract, Anduril must conduct a long-term demonstration of the Dive-XL. The vehicle will be tested in scenarios as close as possible to actual naval missions. The company already has several such vehicles in the US, and now the Navy will be able to evaluate not only the XL-AUV concept itself but also how these vehicles perform in operational mode.
The XL-AUV (extra-large autonomous underwater vehicle) class differs significantly from smaller marine drones typically used for reconnaissance or occasional missions. The Dive-XL, on the other hand, is designed for long-range travel, extended underwater operation, and the transport of heavy payloads.
Moreover, the Dive-XL is closely linked to another company project, the Ghost Shark, which it is building for the Royal Australian Navy. The American vehicle's architecture is largely similar to the Australian design. This background allows Anduril to enter the American program not from scratch, but with existing engineering and manufacturing experience. In 2025, the company received an order in Australia for the delivery of the Ghost Shark and the construction of a separate production facility.
The Dive-XL is currently manufactured in Sydney, and Anduril operates a dedicated facility in Quonset Point, Rhode Island, designed to produce dozens of these systems annually. For the US Navy, a ready-made production base is just as important as a successful prototype. It's crucial not only for compatibility with American ships and systems, but also for the ability to work with allied and partner systems.
This is precisely why autonomous underwater vehicles are currently generating such interest. Underwater, they can conduct surveillance, reconnaissance, deterrence , and sustained presence in areas where the situation becomes too tense for continuous operation by manned platforms. Furthermore, such systems can be integrated with ships, submarines, and other unmanned vehicles.
