Anduril Industries has been selected by the US Navy and the Defense Innovation Unit to take part in their extra-large autonomous underwater vehicle program.
Through the DIU’s Commercial Solutions Opening competition, the company’s Dive-XL AUV was chosen to support the Pentagon’s effort to rapidly prototype and deploy supersized underwater drones under the Combat Autonomous Maritime Platform Project.
The initiative seeks commercially available autonomous systems capable of traveling over 1,000 nautical miles and operating at depths greater than 200 meters underwater. The capability will support the Navy’s wider push to expand the use of robotic and autonomous platforms within its fleet, consistent with its updated “Fighting Instructions” strategy that promotes integrated operations between crewed vessels and uncrewed systems.
Following the contract award, whose value was not disclosed, Anduril will conduct an operationally representative endurance demonstration of the Dive-XL within four months.
The effort also reflects the company’s experience delivering similar capabilities, including the Ghost Shark XL-AUV developed for the Royal Australian Navy.
Dive-XL
The Dive-XL is designed for extended-range and long-endurance operations and can function independently or alongside crewed ships and other autonomous platforms, according to Anduril maritime division senior vice president Shane Arnott.
In testing conducted in 2024, the vehicle reportedly completed a 100-hour continuous mission, marking the longest voyage achieved by an underwater vehicle in its category.
Built with a modular open system architecture, the platform can be upgraded over time and configured with a variety of payloads. These include the company’s AI-enabled Seabed Sentry sensing technology and the Copperhead torpedo-like underwater strike drone.
The Dive-XL can be launched from ships or port facilities using a two-point lift interface and offers a maximum operational range of around 2,000 nautical miles (3,704 kilometers).
In addition to military roles—such as seabed mapping, intelligence gathering, surveillance, reconnaissance, and strike missions—the platform can also be used for commercial activities, including supporting offshore oil and gas infrastructure operations.
