Royal Australian Navy formally names Maritime Autonomous Systems Unit

Naval

15 April 2026

Extra-large autonomous undersea vehicle – known as the Ghost Shark – for the Royal Australian Navy, at Fleet Base East in Sydney. Photo: Kym Smith

The Maritime Autonomous Systems Unit has been formally named by the Royal Australian Navy in a key step towards a more integrated and highly advanced technology‑enabled future force.

MASU has been created through Project SEA 1200 to accelerate the development, integration and operational employment of maritime autonomous systems, optimised for persistent, long‑range intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and strike missions.

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The unit will operate multiple complementary capabilities, including the Ghost Shark extra-large autonomous underwater vehicle (XL-UUV), Bluebottle uncrewed surface vessel (USV) and the Speartooth large uncrewed underwater vehicle (LUUV).

The unit comprises the Uncrewed Systems Control Centre and Deployable Vehicle Team, enabling the deployment and control of autonomous systems from any wharf location anywhere in the world.

MASU’s motto, “We wait, we strike”, reflects the strategic impact of maritime uncrewed systems through multifaceted roles, including extended endurance and kinetic strike effect.

Officer in Charge of MASU Commander Chris Forward said it was exciting to see Navy’s newest unit taking shape.

“Announcing MASU’s name gives the team a formal sense of identity as we work to rapidly introduce this capability into the fleet,” CMDR Forward said.

As part of the Royal Australian Navy’s contribution to AUKUS Pillar 2, MASU will act as the focal point for doctrine development, experimentation, employment, training, and test and evaluation of maritime uncrewed systems.

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The unit will work closely with Defence industry, research partners and international allies to rapidly deliver emerging capabilities.

Commander Submarines Commodore Dan Sutherland said he was pleased to see MASU continue its progress towards full integration into Navy.

“MASU will provide Navy with a long-range autonomous undersea capability through uncrewed systems like the Ghost Shark XL-UUV, Bluebottle USV and Speartooth LUUV to provide a range of asymmetric options to complement Defence’s existing crewed force,” CDRE Sutherland said.

By complementing crewed platforms, MASU will extend the Royal Australian Navy’s reach, persistence and resilience while reducing risk to sailors – positioning Navy to meet the demands of the future battlespace.

Robert Dougherty

Robert is a senior journalist who has previously worked for Seven West Media in Western Australia, as well as Fairfax Media and Australian Community Media in New South Wales. He has produced national headlines, photography and videography of emergency services, business, community, defence and government news across Australia. Robert graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, Majoring in Public Relations and Journalism at Curtin University, attended student exchange program with Fudan University and holds Tier 1 General Advice certification for Kaplan Professional. Reach out via email at

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