Defense tech startup Anduril Industries has faced multiple setbacks during testing of its autonomous weapon systems new reporting By WSJ. Problems cited include more than a dozen drone boats that failed during naval exercises in California in May, with sailors warning of a safety breach and possible loss of life; A mechanical problem that damaged the engine of Anduril’s unmanned jet fighter Fury during summer ground testing; and the August test of its Anvil counterdrone system, which caused a 22-acre fire in Oregon.
Founded in 2017 by Palmer Luckey, Anduril raised $2.5 billion Back at a $30.5 billion valuation led by Founders Fund, which helps grow the company. The company has won several military contracts, including programs to build autonomous aircraft and counter-drone systems.
In addition to the test failures, the Journal reports that Anduril’s only real battlefield experience in Ukraine has also been problematic. Front-line troops of Ukraine’s SBU security service discovered that the Altius hovering drone had crashed and failed to attack the target. The issues were reportedly so severe that Ukrainian forces stopped using drones in 2024 and have not fielded them since, though Anduril says its challenges are typical of weapons development, that its engineering team is achieving meaningful progress, and that the above incidents do not indicate any inherent flaws in its technology.
