Anduril Leads the Charge into the Future of Warfare with Pentagon’s Dream of Autonomous Drone Swarms

To go back to this article, head to My Profile, and then click on View saved stories.

Knight Will

Anduril Constructs the Pentagon’s Vision of Lethal Drone Formations

In 2017, Palmer Luckey embarked on a new venture with the establishment of the defense company Anduril, following his departure from Oculus—a virtual reality startup he sold to Facebook three years prior. At the time, the notion of a young tech entrepreneur taai-allcreator.com">king on the massive firms responsible for producing the US military's aircraft, armored vehicles, and naval vessels appeared somewhat improbable. However, seven years into the journey, Luckey demonstrates that Anduril is not just a contender against these established defense contractors but is also capable of surpassing them.

In the previous month, Anduril, together with the well-known defense firm General Atomics, was selected to develop prototypes for an innovative autonomous fighter jet known as the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) on behalf of the US Air Force and Navy. Anduril was picked over several major defense industry players—referred to in Washington parlance as “defense primes”—including Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman.

Luckey expressed on the social media platform X, shortly after the announcement of the contract, that Anduril demonstrates how a company, only seven years in operation, can compete on equal footing with entities that have been in the industry for over 70 years, thanks to its stellar team and business strategy. The company opted not to provide any representatives for this article.

The approach taken by Anduril emphasizes its ability to quickly provide drones, submarines, and various equipment embedded with sophisticated software affordably. This strategy mirrors a change in the U.S. military's perspective, moving towards faster production of cost-effective systems that incorporate greater software capabilities and autonomy.

Market sentiment appears positive towards the company's strategy. Data from Pitchbook, which monitors startup financing, shows that Anduril has secured $2.3 billion in investments. Furthermore, The Information reports that the company is aiming to gather an additional $1.5 billion.

The Fury, a prototype CCA plane from Anduril, is currently in the initial phases of its development journey. General Atomics, a defense company with 68 years of experience, known for creating unmanned systems like the MQ-9 Reaper — a crucial element in the US's increase in drone warfare during the 2000s, will also be developing a test aircraft.

The United States Air Force is aiming to enhance the abilities and autonomy of its forthcoming CCA drones beyond the capabilities of current unmanned vehicles, which still require significant support from personnel on the ground. These drones are expected to undertake various tasks such as surveillance, conducting air raids, and engaging in electronic combat, working independently or alongside manned or autonomous aircraft. A key focus of this initiative is the creation of advanced artificial intelligence software designed to pilot these drones. This software aims to enable the aircraft to function independently across a broader array of scenarios, unlike current military technologies that offer limited autonomy.

"Stacie Pettyjohn, a senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, based in Washington, DC, describes this development as a significant change. She highlights that the US military's application of AI has primarily been in identifying targets and strategizing up to this point, rather than in system management. According to her, the CCA project represents a major advancement for autonomous systems as well as for the Air Force and Navy."

Authored by Kim Zetter

Authored by Aarian Marshall

Authored by Matt

Authored by Justin

The CCA initiative represents the pinnacle of extensive efforts within the Pentagon to shape the future of more autonomous air combat. In 2014, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency embarked on a project known as the Air Dominance Initiative, finding that the key to future combat superiority lies in integrating cutting-edge fighter aircraft with unmanned systems, or "loyal wingmen", that operate in coordinated groups. The primary objective is to have multiple drones, akin to those being developed by companies like Anduril and General Atomic, support a manned aircraft during operations, working together in adaptable manners.

The fundamental belief is that there is security and superior strength in having numerical superiority on the battlefield. Equipping US pilots with a group of robotic allies aims to enhance their lethality and increase their chances of coming back from operations without injury. Furthermore, this initiative is designed to mark the beginning of a broader move towards utilizing self-operating aircraft in significantly greater quantities.

According to Pettyjohn, the CCA signifies a shift towards utilizing either swarms or, at the very least, an increased quantity of unmanned systems. From a strategic standpoint, employing swarms might enable more economically priced drones to outmaneuver costlier equipment. This approach could introduce a transformative, uneven advantage.

The United States led the way in adopting military drones, which have now become a critical focus for global military forces. Daniel Gerstein, a seasoned policy analyst at Rand Corporation and co-writer of a report released in February, highlights that drone swarms could potentially challenge the dominance of the US. He points out that the conflict in Ukraine has ignited a global surge in interest towards more agile autonomous technologies. According to Gerstein, military strategists are taking the shift towards unmanned systems very seriously, as the rise of more affordable autonomous technologies disrupts traditional warfare dynamics. "Drones have made their mark, and it's imperative we address this development," he asserts.

Ukraine's resistance to Russia's invasion efforts has served as a testing and experimentation site for cost-effective, unmanned systems such as drones, boats, and land vehicles.

As the conflict commenced, Ukraine was able to offer a surprisingly strong defense against Russian armored units thanks to the deployment of Bayraktar TB2 drones, produced by the Turkish firm Baykar, which are controlled from afar. Additionally, both factions employ miniature kamikaze drones designed to detonate upon impact with their targets. Ukrainian units utilize compact Switchblade drones from the US, which are so small they can be carried in backpacks. Moreover, they've ingeniously modified off-the-shelf and agricultural drones for surveillance and offensive operations. All these devices continue to be piloted remotely by operators.

Ukraine has served as a proving ground for assaults conducted by groups of drones, known as swarms, which can overwhelm air defense mechanisms through their sheer volume, making them challenging to monitor or counter. Each faction has utilized groups of relatively compact drones, presumably still under human command. However, the United States and other nations are banking on advanced artificial intelligence to enable even greater numbers of drones to work together in complex manners.

Authored by Kim Zetter

Authored by Aarian Marshall

Authored by Matt

Authored by Justin

Anduril Industries is emphasizing the importance of software in its offerings and seems to be paving the way for the development of swarm warfare technology. The company's Lattice platform is designed to link and manage various sensors and weapon systems, creating a unified view of the battlefield. Anduril is now promoting the platform's capability to manage a group of drones and has joined forces with Epirus, another defense technology firm, to introduce a system that combats drone swarms using potent microwave technology. "The threat posed by drone swarms is quickly evolving," states Epirus CEO Andy Lowery. "Our focus is specifically on addressing the challenges presented by these drone swarms."

The Pentagon's strategy for utilizing drone swarms in the US involves these drones autonomously maAI-allcreator.com">king choices, both as single units and as a group, without much or any guidance from humans. According to Gerstein from Rand, "There will be communication and AI technologies embedded within every element of the swarm. They would be capable of identifying and engaging with targets, and should they come under threat, they could autonomously alter their course."

This level of independence in weapon systems may challenge societal views on autonomous military technology, yet it aligns with official guidelines. In January 2023, the Pentagon revised a directive delineating the boundaries of autonomy in armaments. The updated directive specifies: "Autonomous and semi-autonomous weapons systems are to be engineered in a way that enables commanders and operators to apply suitable degrees of human oversight in decisions regarding the deployment of force."

The United States Department of Defense is exploring the potential for self-operating aircraft to work in tandem with maritime drones. A project undertaken by the US Navy is examining the capability of unmanned surface vessels, underwater drones, and aerial drones to identify targets in the Red Sea and various regions of the Middle East.

Gerstein points out that there are indications suggesting Israel has advanced and utilized smarter drone formations. In 2021, the Israel Defense Forces reportedly employed a group of drones, guided by artificial intelligence, to target Hamas fighters, as mentioned in a New Scientist article.

While military forces have promoted the use of drones as being more precise than traditional weapons, there is also data showing that US drone operations have led to substantial civilian deaths and have overstepped legal limits. There's a belief among some specialists that the introduction of vast fleets of coordinated autonomous drones could introduce additional dangers.

"Swarming signifies an increase in the number of drones functioning in more sophisticated manners across various fields," states Zachary Kallenborn, a specialist in drone technology associated with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a different research institute. "Swarming additionally implies a greater quantity of armaments functioning autonomously, elevating the potential for mistakes—and when these systems interconnect, a single drone's error could potentially spread to a thousand others."

The United States seems dedicated to expanding its drone fleet and enhancing their autonomous capabilities. Officials from the Air Force have announced plans to allocate approximately $6 billion to the CCA program over the forthcoming five years, which encompasses forthcoming contracts. Additionally, a significant drone endeavor by the US is the Replicator project, unveiled by Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks in the previous August. This project seeks to accelerate the creation of numerous autonomous flying systems and relevant technologies in the coming 18 to 24 months.

Upon its announcement last year, Anduril released an extensive statement praising the initiative, indicating its ambition to obtain contracts via the scheme. DefenseScoop has lately indicated that the firm is set to be one of the initial recipients of Replicator grants for a surveillance mechanism known as WISP, designed to monitor drones. The project Fury might merely represent the beginning of Anduril’s involvement in the Pentagon's strategy for the future of swarm-based aerial combat.

Revised on May 28, 2024, at 9:20 PM Eastern Daylight Time: Corrections have been made to this article to rectify an incorrect spelling of Northrop Grumman.

Suggested For You …

Delivered to your email: Dive into the future of artificial intelligence with Will Knight's Fast Forward series.

Indian electors are facing an onslaught of countless deepfake videos

Incarcerated individuals purchased tablets behind bars, only to discover an unful

The single factor impeding the progress of heat pumps

Eternal Sunshine: The Top Sunglasses for Every Endeavor

Journalist Profile:

Knight Will

Lauren Goode

Byline: Pa

Louise Matsakis

Carrie Haskins

Vittoria Elliott

Name: Paresh

Additional Content from WIRED

Evaluations and Instructions

© 2024 Condé Nast. All rights are protected. Purchases made through our website may result in WIRED receiving a share of the revenue, as part of our affiliate agreements with retail partners. Content from this site cannot be copied, shared, broadcasted, stored, or used in any form without explicit written consent from Condé Nast. Choices regarding advertisements are available.

Choose a global website