US Navy, DIU Select Anduril for XL Autonomous Submarine Program

The US Navy and the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) have chosen Anduril for their extra-large autonomous underwater vehicle (XL-AUV) program.

Selected via the DIU’s competitive Commercial Solutions Opening, Anduril’s Dive-XL AUV will support the Pentagon’s efforts to rapidly prototype and field supersized underwater drones under the Combat Autonomous Maritime Platform Project.

Under the program, the DIU seeks “commercially available, demonstration-ready” autonomous systems capable of traveling over 1,000 nautical miles (1,852 kilometers/1,150 miles) and diving deeper than 200 meters (656 feet) underwater. 

This is intended to support the navy’s broader initiative of enhancing fleet readiness by scaling robotic and autonomous systems, including its latest “Fighting Instructions” unveiled in February that outline the combined use of crewed warships with uncrewed systems.

Following the contract award of undisclosed value, the California company is set to complete a long-duration, “operationally representative” demonstration of Dive-XL within four months.

Moreover, this development ties to Anduril’s ability to deliver similar capabilities, such as the Ghost Shark XL-AUVs for the Royal Australian Navy. 

Dive-XL

The Dive-XL features a “very long-range, very long-endurance capability” and can operate independently, or alongside crewed or other uncrewed systems, according to Anduril’s maritime division senior VP, Shane Arnott.

During its demonstration in 2024, it reportedly completed a 100-hour single voyage — the “longest for a vehicle of this class.”

As a platform with modular open system architecture, it supports future upgrades and can be fitted with various payloads, including the company’s AI-powered Seabed Sentry sensing technology and the Copperhead torpedo-inspired underwater attack drone. 

With a two-point lift interface, the Dive-XL can be launched from various ships or piers, and it can travel at a maximum range of 2,000 nautical miles (3,704 kilometers/2,301 miles).

Dive-XL can be used for defense applications — like seabed survey, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, and strike missions — as well as for commercial purposes, such as offshore oil or gas infrastructure delivery.