Anduril Industries in talks with Australia on autonomous undersea vehicle

WASHINGTON — Anduril Industries stated it’s negotiating a $100 million deal to design, develop and manufacture autonomous undersea automobiles for the Australian Defence Power.

The California-based firm disclosed the talks Could 4, saying a three-year improvement program for Additional Giant Autonomous Undersea Automobiles, or XL-AUV, “has an extremely formidable supply schedule” that may require “functionality evaluation and prototyping in report time.”

Three prototypes of the XL-AUV could be delivered to the Royal Australian Navy, Anduril stated. The corporate billed the XL-AUV as reasonably priced, sturdy and able to executing army and non-military missions.

“There’s a clear want for an XL-AUV inbuilt Australia, for Australia,” stated Palmer Luckey, the Anduril founder. “The XL-AUV will harness the most recent developments in autonomy, edge computing, sensor fusion, propulsion and robotics to convey superior functionality to the Royal Australian Navy.”

Anduril introduced an enlargement into Australia this yr. It plans to seek the advice of nationwide consultants and enterprises on the undertaking and leverage the native provide chain. The corporate already works with the U.S. Protection Division, not too long ago securing a $1 billion take care of Particular Operations Command, and the U.Ok. Defence Ministry.

Anduril on Feb. 2 introduced its acquisition of Boston startup Dive Applied sciences, which focuses on autonomous underwater automobiles.

“The world beneath the ocean is totally totally different than the one above it. It requires various kinds of sensors, modalities and problem-solving than the work we’re doing in air, land and house,” Brian Schimpf, an Anduril co-founder and CEO, stated in an announcement on the time. “The Dive Applied sciences crew brings unparalleled, deep area experience below the ocean in addition to a shared dedication to remodeling U.S. and allied army capabilities with superior know-how.”