The US Navy and the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) have selected defense technology company Anduril Industries to develop and demonstrate extra-large autonomous underwater vehicles (XL-AUVs) under a new initiative to strengthen US capabilities in the undersea domain.
The project is part of the Combat Autonomous Maritime Platform (CAMP) program, which seeks to rapidly prototype and deploy long-range autonomous underwater systems capable of carrying large payloads over extended distances.
The US is focusing on expanding its ability to operate effectively beneath the ocean surface. Large autonomous underwater vehicles are expected to help close an operational gap by enabling long-range missions without the need for crewed submarines.
Under the CAMP initiative, Anduril will conduct a long-duration operational demonstration of its Dive-XL autonomous underwater vehicle within four months of receiving the contract. The test will simulate real operational conditions and assess the system’s endurance and mission capability.
The company earned its selection through DIU’s competitive Commercial Solutions Opening process. It followed a demonstration that reportedly achieved the longest extra-large AUV mission to date.
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Anduril’s autonomous undersea vehicles have already accumulated more than 42,355 kilometers of travel and 6,752 hours of mission operations. According to the company, these missions demonstrate the endurance, reliability, and operational maturity needed for distributed maritime operations.
Multiple Dive-XL vehicles are currently operating in the US as part of ongoing development and testing.
For the US Navy, the CAMP program represents an important step toward large-scale experimentation and future operational deployment of extra-large autonomous underwater platforms.
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Anduril’s undersea vehicle program has also gained momentum through international partnerships. In 2025, the company secured a major contract with the Royal Australian Navy to develop the Ghost Shark extra-large autonomous underwater vehicle.
The program included delivery of the platform and a dedicated production facility. Anduril says the effort demonstrated how its development model can reduce risk and deliver advanced capabilities faster than traditional defense procurement programs.
To support future demand, Anduril has established production infrastructure in both the US and Australia.
The company currently produces Dive-XL vehicles in Sydney, while a purpose-built facility in Quonset Point, Rhode Island, is designed to manufacture dozens of Dive-XL platforms and hundreds of Dive-LD vehicles annually.
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Autonomous underwater systems are expected to play an increasingly important role in future naval operations. Their long range and endurance allow militaries to operate in contested waters while maintaining persistent surveillance and strike capabilities.
With the development of Dive-XL, the US Navy aims to transition extra-large autonomous underwater vehicles from experimental platforms to operational assets capable of supporting real-world missions.
