The Australian Government’s 2026 National Defence Strategy (NDS) has confirmed that C2 Robotics’ Speartooth Large Uncrewed Underwater Vessel will be part of the Australian Defence Force’s force structure.
The new 2026 Defence Integrated Investment Program that supports the 2026 NDS states that in addition to acquiring an Extra-Large Uncrewed Underwater Vessel, the Government will invest in “a fleet of large uncrewed underwater vehicles – known as Speartooth. Speartooth is capable of conducting shorter range intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, strike and logistics operations at sea. Due to its smaller size and lower unit cost, Speartooth is optimised for seabed warfare and agile undersea operations, reaching areas Ghost Shark cannot.”
“We’d like to congratulate the Government on its recognition that affordable, attritable autonomous systems such as Speartooth are now an indispensable element of successful militaries and its decision to invest in them," C2 Robotics’ CEO, Troy Duggan, said.
The Australian Department of Defence recently announced that it has formed the Maritime Autonomous Systems Unit to ‘accelerate the development, integration and operational employment of maritime autonomous systems.’ The MASU will operate Speartooth alongside the Ghost Shark Extra-large UUV and the Bluebottle Uncrewed Surface Vessel.
“Australia will have a world-leading maritime autonomous systems capability, with three unique systems designed and built in Australia. We’re looking forward to working with Defence, and Australian industry to introduce Speartooth into service and extend Australia’s leadership in this field," Duggan noted.
The confirmation that Speartooth will be part of the ADF follows C2 Robotics’ announcement that foreign militaries have begun to acquire Speartooth.
The NDS also announced $12-15 billion in funding for uncrewed and autonomous systems over the next decade including $2.2-$3.1 billion investment in smaller uncrewed systems across all domains.
“C2 Robotics has specialised for many years in R&D in the realm of ‘the small, the smart, and the many’, the systems that have repeatedly demonstrated their importance in conflicts in Ukraine and more recently in the Middle East," Duggan stated.
C2 Robotics has developed counter-drone systems based on off-the-shelf drones. The company has demonstrated its counter-drone systems at ADF test events achieving high intercept rates against representative threat drones. The company also manufactures the PackMule Uncrewed Ground Vehicle for Australian and overseas markets.