Release From Anduril Industries

Just seven weeks after the Royal Australian Navy awarded a A$1.7 billion Program of Record, Anduril today officially opened its new, state-of-the-art Ghost Shark manufacturing facility in Sydney. The opening — attended by the Hon Pat Conroy MP, Minister for Defence Industry; Vice Admiral Mark Hammond AO, Chief of Navy; Dr Shane Arnott, SVP, Anduril Industries; and David Goodrich OAM, Chairman & CEO Anduril Australia — coincides with a major milestone: the first Ghost Shark Extra Large Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (XL-AUV) has rolled off the line ahead of schedule and is ready for sea acceptance testing ahead of planned delivery to the Royal Australian Navy in January 2026. 

The factory opening follows the Royal Australian Navy’s award of a A$1.7BN contract to Anduril Australia to deliver a large fleet of Ghost Sharks over the next five years. Anduril announced the successful Program of Record designation after successfully completing the co-development contract and delivering three Ghost Shark XL-AUVs ahead of schedule and on-budget. This was a part of the AU$140M co-development contract to design and develop three Ghost Shark XL-AUVs in three years. 

The new 7,400m² facility is purpose-built to produce Ghost Shark, and its commercial baseline the Dive-XL, at-scale and, subject to Government approval, for export to allies and partners around the world. It combines advanced robotic manufacturing, AI-driven logistics and a custom test tank for in-water verification of buoyancy, electrical systems and safety before sea trials. 

The Ghost Shark manufacture program has commenced with Low-Rate Initial Production, moving to full scale production in 2026. It incorporates input from a supply chain of over 40 Australian SMEs and companies that provide a broad range of components, subcomponents and materials. 

Key facts 

• A$1.7 billion Program of Record awarded by the Royal Australian Navy. 

• First vehicle off the line and ready for undersea testing; planned RAN delivery January 2026. 

• Factory footprint: 7,400m² with integrated robotic production, AI ground vehicles and gantry tracking. 

• Custom in-water test tank and adjacent engineering labs for live software and hardware tuning. 

• Production ramp: Low-Rate Initial Production underway, transitioning to full-scale production in 2026. 

• Supply chain: over 40 Australian SMEs contributing parts, components and materials. 

• Local impact: more than 150 high-skilled jobs created and a strengthened sovereign supply chain. 

Beyond the XL-AUV, the facility is configured to manufacture Dive-XL and Dive-LD variants and is ready to support future platforms such as Anduril’s Copperhead family of high-speed Autonomous Underwater Vehicles 

Factory is ready to produce vehicles for export to allies and partners around the world (subject to Australian government approval) 

Quotes attributable to Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Pat Conroy MP 

“The Ghost Shark is the most high-tech long range autonomous underwater capability that exists in the world today and the Albanese Government is proud to have supported its development,” said the Hon Pat Conroy MP, Minister for Defence Industry. “The opening of this factory is about backing Australian ingenuity and innovation, but also securing hundreds of well-paid high-skilled jobs and a future made in Australia.” 

Quotes attributed to David Goodrich OAM, Chairman and CEO Anduril Australia 

David Goodrich OAM, Chairman & CEO, Anduril Australia, said: “Today marks a defining moment in our mission to bring sovereign undersea capability to Australia. With the opening of this new facility, we are not only building local infrastructure and workforce — we are investing in innovation, in partnerships, and in the future defence of our nation. Affordable, disruptive and distributed mass is a central tenet of undersea deterrence, and we look forward to supporting Australia and its allies by producing Ghost Sharks right here in Sydney.” 

Release From the Senate Armed Services Committee

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Ranking Member Jack Reed (D-R.I.) released two letters to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth requesting execute orders (EXORDs), legal rationale, and designated terrorist organization lists related to Department of Defense operations against drug trafficking cartels. 

The September 23, 2025 letter addresses existing legal requirements under the National Defense Authorization Acts for Fiscal Years 2020 and 2025 that mandate congressional oversight of military execute orders. The senators are seeking all EXORDs approved by the Secretary of Defense or combatant commanders that underpin DOD activities to combat drug trafficking cartels. 

The October 6, 2025 letter requests any written opinion from the Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel regarding the domestic or international legal basis for these operations and strikes, and a complete list of all designated terrorist organizations and drug trafficking organizations with whom the President has determined the United States is in a non-international armed conflict and against whom lethal military force may be used. 

To date, these documents have not been submitted. These oversight requests were made pursuant to Section 1067 of the FY2025 NDAA, Section 1744 of the FY2020 NDAA, and Section 1230 of the FY2024 NDAA. 

A copy of the September 23^rd letter may be viewed here. 

A copy of the October 6^th letter may be viewed here. 

Release From U.S. Coast Guard Oceania District

HONOLULU — The crew of Coast Guard Cutter Hollyhock (WLB 214) arrived at their new homeport in Honolulu Oct. 14 after 806 days of restorative maintenance. 

The primary mission of the Hollyhock, a 225-foot Juniper-class seagoing buoy tender, is to maintain and deploy aids to navigation within the navigable waters of the main Hawaiian Islands, American Samoa, and Midway Atoll, servicing buoys that mark shipping channels, ports and hazardous areas. 

Additionally, the Hollyhock’s presence in the region will support Operation Blue Pacific, the Coast Guard’s initiative to promote security, safety, sovereignty, and economic prosperity in Oceania. While deployed, the cutter’s crew will conduct law enforcement, fisheries boardings, and support maritime safety through the servicing of navigational aids throughout the region in cooperation with allies and partners. 

Commissioned in 2003, the Hollyhock was originally homeported in Port Huron, Michigan, before entering maintenance at the Coast Guard Yard in Baltimore on July 31, 2023. 

The Hollyhock crew departed for Honolulu on Aug. 31, 2025. 

“The crew is excited to arrive in Honolulu and support critical operations throughout Oceania,” said Cmdr. Jessica McCollum, commanding officer of the Hollyhock. “Our arrival enhances the Coast Guard’s capacity to maintain vital navigational aids that facilitate the safe flow of maritime commerce. This is especially crucial in Hawaii, where more than 90% of goods arrive by sea.” 

The Hollyhock is the last of the Coast Guard’s 16 seagoing buoy tenders to complete the major maintenance availability (MMA) program, ensuring the cutter achieves its full 30-years of designated service. 

Maintenance work included completion of hull and structural repairs and replacement of obsolete, unsupportable or intensive maintenance equipment, including updates to the machinery control system, propellers, and heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems. 

The MMA is part of the Coast Guard’s In-Service Vessel Sustainment (ISVS) program, a strategic class-by-class evaluation offering the most cost-effective solution for delivering essential maintenance and upgrades, ensuring Coast Guard surface vessels meet or exceed their expected service life. 

Release From Hanwha USA, Oct. 29, 2025 

On Wednesday, President Trump addressed the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation CEO Summit and reinforced his partnership with South Korea to bolster shipyards in the United States.  

“And today we’re not really building ships and we’re going to start and we’re going to have a very thriving, very thriving shipbuilding industry and we’re working it with South Korea very much so. In fact, some of the people in this room, they bought the Philadelphia shipyard. 

“I think it’s going to be one of the most successful yards in the world anywhere in the world. It’s great.” 

Why it matters: In August 2025, Hanwha announced a multibillion-dollar infrastructure plan for Hanwha Philly Shipyard that will be dedicated to the installation of two additional docks and three quays to increase capacity and is reviewing plans for a new block assembly facility.  

In addition to its multibillion-dollar commitment to build capacity, it will also train skilled shipbuilding personnel and bolster the shipbuilding industrial base. Hanwha’s planned expansion at Philly Shipyard, from roughly one ship annually to as many as 20, aligns directly with U.S. goals to restore competitive shipbuilding capacity and rebuild the industrial workforce. 

Read more about Hanwha’s commitment to the Philly Shipyard here.   

The full transcript of President Trump’s remarks can be found here.  

Joint Demonstration Marks First Major Collaboration Between Global Shipbuilder and U.S. Defense Technology Company 

Release From Hanwha

SEOUL — Hanwha is accelerating its entry into the U.S. market through a strategic collaboration with U.S.-based autonomy solutions company Havoc AI, following a joint technology demonstration of autonomous navigation and remote operations for maritime unmanned systems.  

On Tuesday, Havoc AI CEO Paul Lwin and members of the company’s research team visited Hanwha Ocean’s Geoje shipyard, where they reviewed Hanwha’s naval shipbuilding and maritime systems capabilities.  

Havoc AI then conducted a live demonstration in which a Havoc AI unmanned surface vessel (USV) off the coast of Hawaii was remotely controlled from Geoje, Korea.  

“Hawnha’s global defense strategy is focused on our evolution from the leading Korean aerospace company to a leading global aerospace company,” said Michael Coulter, CEO of Hanwha Global Defense. “This partnership seeks to incorporate both our technology and industrial strength with a leading U.S. technology company to create new, scalable capabilities in the U.S. while deepening the interoperability of our partners.”  

“Harnessing Hanwha Group’s maritime systems expertise and shipbuilding capabilities together with Havoc AI’s autonomy will expand the utility of existing vessels while enabling rapid fielding of new unmanned systems,” said Paul Lwin, CEO of Havoc AI.  

The partnership will aim to integrate Hanwha Ocean’s warship construction expertise; Hanwha Systems’ combat management system (CMS) and platform/system integration capabilities; and Havoc AI’s advanced autonomous navigation software to deliver deployable products and solutions. Such a move could also provide scalable solutions across the defense and maritime domains.  

Additionally, the collaboration highlights Hanwha’s commitment to investing in new technologies to expand its industrial partnership for allies across the United States, Europe, Australia, and the Middle East.  

“We will leverage Hanwha Systems’ CMS and naval platform integration strengths, along with intra-group synergies, to work with Havoc AI and make tangible inroads into the global maritime unmanned systems market spanning Korea and the United States,” said Ryu Moon-Ghee, head of the Naval Business Division at Hanwha Systems. 

Establishes Defense-Grade Digital Backbone to Accelerate Warfighter Capability 

Release From X-Bow Systems  

WASHINGTON, October 29, 2025 – X-Bow Systems Inc (X-Bow), the leading non-traditional producer of advanced manufactured solid rocket motors (SRMs) and defense technologies, announced today an agreement that establishes the company as the first customer to adopt defense-grade artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities within the Astris AI Factory, a secure, end-to-end AI platform from Astris AI, a Lockheed Martin company. 

This move is designed to accelerate X-Bow’s ability to meet urgent national security production demands by establishing a trusted digital backbone for its factory operations. 

Why It Matters: Faster, Affordable Rockets 

This is about applying defense-grade AI to X-Bow’s most sensitive, mission-critical functions—from secure data governance to factory control. This shift directly enables affordable and faster delivery of tactical rocket motors to the warfighter. 

·      Defense Focus: X-Bow is establishing an accredited digital environment with its first application being a secure AI agent. This initial governance step is critical to rapidly scaling affordable production for U.S. missile and hypersonics programs by proving the platform’s security for all proprietary Advanced Manufactured Solid Propellant (AMSP) processes. 

·      Security & IP: Using the Astris AI Factory, which is proven in classified environments, allows X-Bow to handle its core manufacturing IP with defense-grade security, ensuring data integrity from design to deployment. 

·      Manufacturing Control: The platform’s strategic operational focus is on advanced manufacturing control, leveraging Astris AI Factory’s generative AI and MLOps framework to free up engineering time and improve process control, enabling rapid, reliable iterations essential for defense production. 

·      Scale & Affordability: The agreement paves the way for X-Bow to rapidly extend this accredited platform across its manufacturing enterprise, enabling real-time production execution and higher throughput for tactical and large-scale rocket motors. 

The Tech Stack 

The platform integrates the latest AI enterprise software to operationalize sophisticated models. 

·      This framework allows X-Bow’s custom AI tools to securely retrieve and analyze proprietary technical data in real-time while drawing on multiple large language models for process optimization and digital twin fidelity. 

·      This architecture is designed to simplify and accelerate the accreditation process, a huge factor for defense suppliers operating on government programs. 

The Takeaway 

“This customer agreement dramatically improves our ability to secure the necessary accreditation to scale up manufacturing,” said Jason Hundley, Founder and CEO of X-Bow Systems. “This secure, accredited digital backbone is a game-changer for data governance and production integrity, allowing us to focus our engineering resources on delivering rapid, affordable solid rocket motors for our customers.” 

“This collaboration marks a defining moment in bringing trusted and reliable AI directly to mission-critical environments,” said James Droskoski, CRO, Astris AI. “By integrating the Astris AI Factory platform into X-Bow’s advanced manufacturing operations, we’re helping deliver a secure, data-driven foundation that accelerates production, strengthens supply chain resilience, and upholds the highest standards of national security. Together, we’re proving that AI can transform both speed and affordability for critical systems that protect our nation.” 

Lockheed Martin will rapidly equip Saildrone USVs with all-domain defense technology for lethal military applications. 

From Saildrone, Oct. 29, 2025 

BETHESDA, Md. — Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) today announced a $50 million investment in Saildrone, a global leader in maritime autonomous systems. This strategic collaboration will deliver commercially available unmanned surface vehicles (USV) equipped with lethal, combat-proven defense technology. The companies will collaborate with a goal of delivering integrations, including on-water, live fire demonstrations, in 2026. 

Why it matters 

This commercial relationship marries the world’s most sophisticated and trusted defense technology with the most capable and operationally tested USV technology. This combination will be key to realizing the US Navy’s USV vision for critical missions such as fleet defense, undersea surveillance, reconnaissance, and attack. Work will begin immediately, applying an open architecture approach along with secure command and control capability to integrate Lockheed Martin’s JAGM Quad Launcher (JQL) system onto the Saildrone Surveyor platform. 

Larger Saildrone vehicles are already in development to support significantly larger payloads and capabilities to include the Lockheed Martin Mk70 VLS launcher and thin line towed arrays. 

Expert perspectives 

Stephanie C. Hill, president, Rotary and Mission Systems, Lockheed Martin:  

“Lockheed Martin and Saildrone are leading the way to answer President Trump’s call for the defense industry to act differently and leverage the strength of all of industry for our national defense. Together, we are combining the most sophisticated commercial and defense technologies to deliver a lethal naval solution at speed and scale. The nation needs this capability to maintain dominance over our adversaries, and we will deliver it.”  

Richard Jenkins, founder and CEO, Saildrone: 

“For the last 10 years, we have focused on evolving the reliability, endurance, and autonomy of the Saildrone platform, which has been demonstrated in over 2 million nautical miles of active customer missions. With our technology proven, de-risked, and mission-ready, now is the right time to augment Saildrone USVs with sophisticated payloads to meet warfighter needs. This collaboration will give Saildrone the tools we need to transform the capabilities of our platforms, to include electronic warfare, anti-submarine warfare, sophisticated surveillance and reconnaissance, as well as deploying kinetic effects, all seamlessly integrated with Lockheed Martin’s trusted command, control, and fire control systems.” 

Additional Information 

Fast Fielding of Commercial Technology for Defense: Saildrone USVs have been accomplishing complex maritime missions in the remote ocean since 2013. First deployed by the U.S. Navy in 2021, they are currently operational today, working 24/7/365 alongside American Sailors in combat theaters around the world. This commercial relationship will harness Saildrone’s decade-plus of commercial expertise to quickly field new defense applications. Saildrone will maintain all shipbuilding responsibilities, and Lockheed Martin will serve as lead mission integrator. 

Investing Ahead of Need and Accelerating Capability: Lockheed Martin is investing in Saildrone to accelerate and de-risk deployment of urgently needed defense technologies. The investment will establish a collaborative relationship between Lockheed Martin and Saildrone systems integration teams to accelerate manufacture of new larger platforms and integrate Lockheed Martin payloads onto a variety of platforms. Lockheed Martin is also investing in its existing products to facilitate fully autonomous operations.  

Ready Now: The companies are focusing on integrating ready-now, proven capabilities with Saildrone USVs to get unmatched lethality into the hands of warfighters as soon as possible.  

Powering Economic Growth: Developing these transformational USVs will create jobs at Austal USA on the coast of the Gulf of America, where Saildrone’s larger systems are produced. However, this work is shipyard-agnostic; as we scale, it has the potential to power economic growth at all of America’s shipyards and across the wider maritime and defense industrial bases. 

Master Boat Builders Unveils StateoftheArt Floating Dry Dock to Boost Throughput 

Conrad designed and built dry dock streamlines launches, increases throughput at Coden, and readies Master Boat for future government work 

CODEN, Ala. — October 29, 2025 — Master Boat Builders, Inc. (“Master Boat”) today announced it has taken delivery of a new, stateoftheart floating dry dock, giving the company direct control over launch schedules and accelerating vessel deliveries. 

Designed and built by Conrad Shipyard, the dry dock measures 155’ long x 66’ wide with 41’ tall wing walls, features a 2,000ton lifting capacity, and incorporates a barge bow to enable efficient towing. Master Boat will use the dock to launch recently constructed vessels. Previously, Master Boat rolled vessels onto a barge and towed them to third-party facilities in Alabama and Mississippi for launch – forcing Master Boat to be dependent on the availability and schedule of other yards. Now, Master Boat will have the ability to launch directly from its facility along the Theodore Industrial Canal, eliminating external constraints while improving reliability and cadence. 

“This is about improving our capacity, schedule certainty and cadence of delivery, especially as we begin to take on more work, especially government and defense programs,” said Garrett Rice, President of Master Boat Builders. “By modernizing how we launch and bringing that capability under our own roof, we’re now able to deliver critical vessels with greater predictability and certainty.” 

The new dry dock complements Master Boat’s recently announced strategic partnership with Austal USA. The two companies aim to strengthen the domestic maritime industrial base by increasing the ability of proven, regional shipyards to take on large, complex programs for the U.S. government. Under the MOU, the companies will collaborate on current programs under contract to Austal USA as well as on future efforts, enabling greater flexibility to meet evolving fleet requirements. By distributing work across complementary facilities, Austal USA and Master Boat aim to reduce bottlenecks, shorten production schedules, and create surge capacity for future demand. The companies also intend to co-invest in workforce development initiatives. 

“This is one more step in derisking schedules for our customers,” added Rice. “When we control launch windows on our term, we protect delivery momentum, reduce bottlenecks, and keep our focus where it belongs – building hardworking boats, on time.” 

Dry Dock at a Glance 

• 155’ L × 66’ W × 41’ wing walls 

• 2,000ton lifting capacity 

• Barge bow for efficient towing 

Advanced jet trainer program could bring major investment and jobs to Kansas 

From Textron Aviation Defense 

WICHITA, Kan. (Oct. 28, 2025) — Textron Aviation Defense LLC, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, today announced that if awarded the Undergraduate Jet Training System (UJTS) program contract by the U.S. Navy, it will assemble the Beechcraft M-346N at its east campus in Wichita, Kansas — the historic home of the Beechcraft brand for nearly a century. The announcement reinforces the company’s commitment to delivering the most advanced jet integrated training system for the U.S. Navy. 

Textron Aviation Defense expects to invest more than $38 million to modernize more than 50,000 square feet of existing manufacturing space on the company’s east Wichita campus if awarded the contract. The program is expected to create an estimated 100 direct manufacturing jobs in Wichita, along with numerous indirect jobs supporting aircraft production and assembly. 

 Wichita has long been the center of innovation for Beechcraft, and we’re proud to continue that tradition as we prepare to support the Navy’s next-generation training needs. This announcement underscores our 85-year legacy of supporting the U.S. government with training aircraft from the American heartland.Travis Tyler, president & CEO, Textron Aviation Defense 

The Beechcraft M-346N is the centerpiece of a low-risk, operationally proven integrated training system featuring Live-Virtual-Constructive capabilities optimized for advanced naval training. With more than 100 M-346 aircraft produced by Leonardo and a decade of performance training aviators for fourth- and fifth-generation aircraft, the M-346N offers a reliable, high-performance solution for the Navy’s next-generation training needs. 

The U.S. Navy has issued several Requests for Information ahead of an anticipated Request for Proposals for the UJTS program. Textron Aviation Defense anticipates the Navy will announce the contract award in January 2027 and believes that it is well-positioned to support the Navy’s objective of accelerating Initial Operational Capability (IOC). 

“Textron Aviation’s decision to assemble the Beechcraft M-346N in Wichita is a testament to the world-class aviation workforce present in Kansas,” said Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kansas. “This aircraft is the right solution to meet the Navy’s future training requirements. I will continue my work on the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee to make certain our Navy pilots have the necessary resources and equipment to support their mission. 

About the Beechcraft M-346N 

 The Beechcraft M-346N is a twin-engine, tandem-seat aircraft equipped with fully digital flight controls and avionics. It features a fly-by-wire flight control system with quadruple redundancy, a Head-Up Display and Large Area Display in each cockpit and hands-on throttle and stick (HOTAS) controls. Innovative safety features include the Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System (Auto-GCAS). 

Powered by two Honeywell F124-GA-200 turbofan engines, the M-346N delivers a maximum cruise speed of more than 590 knots and a service ceiling of 45,000 feet. Its advanced aerodynamic design enables exceptional maneuverability and energy management, while the elevated rear cockpit provides instructors with excellent visibility throughout all phases of flight. 

Textron Aviation’s commitment to assembling the Beechcraft M-346N in Wichita is a testament to their rich heritage in the Air Capital of the World and their responsiveness to the needs of the United States Navy. As a steady defender of our aviation industry, I commend Textron’s leadership for investing in our skilled Kansas workforce and strengthening our military readiness.U.S. Congressman Ron Estes (Kansas) 

Secretary of the Navy John Phelan has withdrawn the service from a land swap with the District of Columbia that was to have created a home for a long-awaited new Museum of the United States Navy, the Navy’s Office of Legislative Affairs notified Congress.

“We want to notify you directly that, in consultation with the White House, the Secretary of the Navy has decided to strategically shift away from the leasing arrangement that contemplated private or mixed-use development of the O Parcel at the Washington Navy Yard in the interest of national security,” the OLA said in a statement provided to Seapower by the Naval History and Heritage Command.

“Given the sensitive work at the WNY, evolving national security threats, and a renewed focus on force protection, private development on the Washington Navy Yard property is not feasible from a national security perspective.

“This decision does not reflect a negative assessment of the land exchange, the developer [RedBrick], or the future National Museum of the Navy; instead, we are focused exclusively on the national security concerns of private development on the Washington Navy Yard. Please be assured we are committed to the future National Museum of the Navy.”

Former Navy Secretary Kenneth Braithwaite, now chair of the Navy Museum Development Foundation that is raising money for the new museum, first made the news public at a panel discussion at the Congress of the Naval Order of the United States in Philadelphia.

In a recent edition of the Tuesday Tidings newsletter of the National Maritime Historical Society, Braithwaite said the move means fundraising is on hold until a new site can be identified.

The location of the new museum was the subject of a press briefing last October, where then-Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro and other officials, including Braithwaite, praised the location, which would have been near the Navy Yard as well as the Washington Nationals baseball stadium and the Audi Field soccer stadium.

Even had the site development continued there, it would have been a long time before anyone walked through the door. The foundation was charged with raising nearly half a billion dollars for the museum and the groundbreaking wouldn’t have been before 2030 at the earliest.