Anduril Industries: AI & Autonomous Systems Reshaping Defense
Anduril Industries: Reshaping Global Defense with AI and Autonomy
In a rapidly evolving geopolitical landscape, a new breed of defense technology companies is challenging the traditional giants, and at the forefront stands Anduril Industries. Founded in 2017 by Oculus VR creator Palmer Luckey and other tech luminaries, the American startup has swiftly emerged as a formidable force, leveraging artificial intelligence and autonomous systems to revolutionize national security. Named after Aragorn’s sword in “The Lord of the Rings,” Anduril (Korean: 안두릴) embodies its namesake’s spirit of innovation and decisive action, aiming to bring Silicon Valley agility to the often-slow-moving defense sector.
Headquartered in Costa Mesa, California, with additional offices in Boston, Washington D.C., and Sydney, Anduril has experienced meteoric growth since its inception. The company’s valuation has surged dramatically, reaching $14 billion in August 2024 after a $1.5 billion Series F funding round, and is reportedly in talks for a Series G round that could push its valuation to an astonishing $28 billion or even $30.5 billion by June 2025. This rapid capital infusion underscores investor confidence in Anduril’s disruptive approach, which saw its revenue double to $1 billion in 2024.
Anduril’s core innovation lies in its software-centric philosophy, epitomized by its Lattice AI platform. This operating system integrates data from various autonomous systems—including drones, surveillance towers, rockets, and submarines—to create a unified, real-time picture of the battlespace, providing actionable intelligence to human operators at unprecedented speeds. This approach contrasts sharply with the often hardware-first, lengthy procurement cycles of legacy defense contractors. The Lattice platform was even selected by the U.S. Space Force in 2024 for use in surveillance networks.
The company’s diverse product portfolio showcases its commitment to autonomous warfare. It includes stealth reconnaissance drones like Ghost and Ghost-X, automated Sentry Towers for surveillance, and a range of unmanned systems such as Altius, Bolt, Anvil, Roadrunner, Fury, and the autonomous submarine Ghost Shark. Anduril is also making significant strides in augmented reality for soldiers, taking over the U.S. Army’s Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS) program from Microsoft. Palmer Luckey has teased their proprietary “EagleEye” system, promising a monumental leap in vision augmentation and integrated protection for military personnel. Furthermore, Anduril has partnered with OpenAI to enhance defense systems designed to protect military personnel from drone threats.
To meet the escalating demand for its technologies, Anduril is aggressively expanding its manufacturing capabilities. In January 2025, the company announced plans for “Arsenal-1,” a massive 5 million-square-foot manufacturing facility in Pickaway County, Ohio, representing a nearly $1 billion investment. This facility is projected to create 4,000 direct jobs by 2035, with production slated to begin in July 2026, aiming to redefine the speed and scale at which defense products can be manufactured. Just recently, in August 2025, Anduril also opened a new full-rate Solid Rocket Motor (SRM) manufacturing facility in McHenry, Mississippi, investing $75 million to become the third major U.S. SRM supplier. This site plans to produce 6,000 tactical motors annually by the end of 2026, addressing critical shortfalls in missile component production.
Anduril’s influence extends globally through strategic international collaborations. The company has deepened its commitment to Taiwan, opening a new office and delivering the first tranche of its Altius loitering munitions in August 2025 as part of a 2024 foreign military sale contract. This rapid delivery, achieved within six months, highlights Anduril’s ability to fast-track defense capabilities. They are also expanding partnerships with Taiwan’s National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) on AI-enabled command and control and unmanned systems. In South Korea, Anduril officially launched a local office in August 2025 and forged strategic partnerships with major firms like HD Hyundai, for joint development of unmanned surface vehicles, and Korean Air, for co-developing unmanned aerial vehicles for the Asia-Pacific market, including plans for licensed production and a potential “Arsenal South Korea” facility.
By embracing a Silicon Valley-style development model, Anduril is fundamentally changing how defense technology is created and deployed. Its rapid iteration, software-first approach, and willingness to develop products proactively for military markets have allowed it to quickly field advanced systems that enhance the defense capabilities of the U.S. and its allies. As global defense spending continues to surge, Anduril Industries is not merely participating in the defense sector; it is actively shaping its future, preparing nations for the complexities of modern and future warfare.