On Friday, May 1, 2026, Australian company C2 Robotics christened the first Speartooth LUUV (Large Uncrewed Underwater Vessel) intended for the U.S. Navy. The ceremony marked a milestone for the company, signaling both Speartooth’s transition from the development phase to operational service and C2 Robotics’ expansion into international markets.
Photo: C2 Robotics
Although ship christenings are a long-standing naval tradition, this event was a first for C2 Robotics and was carried out with a modern touch: the christening was performed by a robotic arm, with a human in the loop. This philosophy also applies to Speartooth’s operational context.
“This is a proud and important step for our company,” said Troy Duggan, CEO of C2 Robotics. “We don’t typically conduct christening ceremonies for all of our boats, but this moment reflects the maturity of the Speartooth program and the strength of our partnership with the United States.” “The LUUV program is incredibly fast paced with payload options and mission roles continuously expanding“, Duggan said.
The christening ceremony was led by the guest of honor and sponsor’s representative, Capt. Josh Fagan, U.S. Navy Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Canberra. The Director General of Integrated Maritime Capabilities, who oversees the autonomous systems program in the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), was represented by Capt. Tony Miskelly. Members of the C2 Robotics team and suppliers also attended the ceremony.
The Speartooth LUUV was designed to provide scalable and cost-effective underwater capabilities for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and strike missions. Its smaller size and lower unit cost enable it to operate in contested environments and generate combat power in ways that traditional platforms cannot.
“This partnership demonstrates a shared commitment to advancing allied autonomous undersea capability,” Duggan said. “Speartooth is built on the principle of ‘Small, Smart, Many’—and today’s event brings that concept one step closer to operational reality.”
C2 Robotics ogłosiła, że wkrótce podpisze umowę z niemieckim partnerem, spółką Eurobotics GmbH.
Pierwszą umowę międzynarodową ogłoszono w listopadzie 2025, bez wskazania klienta. Teraz wiadomo, że była to US Navy.
Speartooth LUUV
The vehicle was originally designed for Australia’s own requirements, as confirmed in the 2026 National Defence Strategy, as part of a fleet of uncrewed underwater vehicles alongside Anduril Australia’s Ghost Shark. The Speartooth LUUV Generation 2 prototype took part in Exercise Autonomous Warrior 23.
According to available information, the Speartooth LUUV in its basic version has a hull length of about 8 m, with an 11 m variant also offered; a diameter of about 1 m; a range of up to 2,000 km; and an operating depth of up to 2,000 m. It uses a hybrid propulsion system, consisting of lithium-ion batteries and a diesel engine with electric drive, enabling quiet operation. The hull is composite, while the design is modular, with large payload bays.