As the U.S. military modernizes and new aerial threats have defined recent wars, defense technology company Anduril Industries is getting ahead with a tech-smart, Silicon Valley approach in selling to the Pentagon, recently introducing several new AI-powered drones, and supplying Ukraine.
Anduril has emerged as a disruptor to traditional contractors such as Lockheed Martin, Raytheon and Northrop Grumman and a competitor to several defense unicorns such as Shield AI and Epirus.
The company is getting ahead in the defense sector by proactively financing its own research and product development, and then making sales — a departure from the standard military contract-and-then-build process.
Loaded with venture capital funding from major investors Andreessen Horowitz, Founders Fund and General Catalyst, Anduril is on a fast track.
Last year, Anduril launched several new drones that rely on its Lattice AI-powered command and control software used by the U.S. military and allies to direct human-assisted robotics systems to perform complex missions.
Persons:
Anduril, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Palmer Luckey, Brian Schmipf, Andreessen Horowitz, Catalyst
Organizations:
Anduril Industries, Pentagon, Lockheed, Raytheon, Northrop, VR, Facebook, Founders Fund, U.S .
Locations:
Ukraine