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Anduril's High-Tech Military Gear Hits Snags
28 Nov
Summary
- Drone boats failed during a recent Navy exercise off California.
- An unmanned jet fighter suffered engine damage during a ground test.
- Loitering drones in Ukraine reportedly stopped being used.
Defense technology firm Anduril Industries has recently faced multiple setbacks in the development and testing of its autonomous weapons. During a Navy exercise off the California coast in May, more than a dozen drone boats reportedly malfunctioned. Furthermore, an unmanned jet fighter named Fury sustained engine damage during a summer ground test, and a counterdrone system test in Oregon caused a significant wildfire in August.
These testing failures extend to Anduril's limited battlefield deployment in Ukraine. Soldiers from Ukraine's SBU security service reported that Altius loitering drones failed to hit targets and crashed. These issues were reportedly severe enough that Ukrainian forces ceased using the drones in 2024 and have not fielded them since.
Founded in 2017 by Palmer Luckey, Anduril has secured substantial military contracts. Despite these challenges, the company maintains that its difficulties are typical of weapons development and that its engineering team is making meaningful progress. Anduril asserts that the reported incidents do not indicate fundamental flaws in its technology.
