Ukrainian military will receive a batch of drones from American startup Anduril for $38 million
The UK has signed a deal to supply Altius 600M and Altius 700M drones from American startup Anduril for a total of almost £30 million.
The UK has signed a deal to supply Altius 600M and Altius 700M drones from American startup Anduril for a total of almost £30 million.
This is stated in a message on the British government website. It notes that the British Defense Secretary John Healy visited the Anduril company, which produces drones, in Washington, D.C., ahead of a meeting with his American counterpart Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon.
New contracts totaling almost £30 million, supported by the International Fund for Ukraine, will see Anduril supply the latest Altius 600 m and Altius 700 m drones, known as loitering munitions, which are designed to monitor terrain before striking targets.
Based in California, Anduril continues to invest heavily in the UK, has a significant presence across the country and plans to expand its operations.
«We are determined to achieve a secure, lasting peace in Ukraine, and that means we must give Ukraine the strongest possible position to prevent any return to Russian aggression,» the British Defense Secretary said.
The UK recalled that it had already provided the Ukrainian Armed Forces with over 10,000 drones, which «have proven vital in disrupting the advance of Russian forces and targeting positions behind the front line.» It is reported that the Ukrainian military will receive Anduril drones, launchers, and spare parts in the coming months.
Dr Rich Drake, CEO of Anduril in the UK and Europe, said:
«Anduril UK is proud to partner with the UK government, working hand in hand to deliver vital capabilities for the UK and its allies. Our focus on developing and deploying technologies where and when they are needed is at the heart of everything we do — from the rapid delivery of Altius to Ukraine to expanding our presence here in the UK,» said Dr Rich Drake, CEO of Anduril UK and Europe.
What is known about Altius drones?
Anduril describes the Altius drones as an «incredibly versatile platform» that can be launched from land, air or sea to perform a variety of mission types, including counterintelligence, kinetic attack, radio frequency decoys, reconnaissance, communications relay and cyber warfare.
The Altius-600M is designed to use multiple sight and warhead options, doubling its airtime and range compared to competitors, according to the developers. Its total weight is 9-12 kg, depending on the payload.
The Altius-700M is designed for a heavier payload and is capable of carrying warheads weighing up to 15 kg. Anduril claims that the Altius-700M has a range of 160 km and a drone cruising time of 75 minutes.
The publication «Military» reports that in March last year, these drones were successfully tested at a training ground in Utah. In the video of the tests, you can see how the Altius-700M hits a mock-up of the Soviet-Russian Buk anti-aircraft missile system (AMS).
In 2023, the US Department of Defense already announced the transfer of Altius-600 drones to Ukraine.
OpenAI and defense startup Anduril previously announced a collaboration. As part of the partnership, OpenAI will integrate its software into Anduril’s anti-drone systems, which detect and shoot down drones.
Last December, it was reported that Palantir and Anduril were in talks with a dozen competitors, including SpaceX and OpenAI, to form a consortium to jointly bid for U.S. government contracts, in an attempt to challenge traditional «prime» contractors Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and Boeing.
Earlier, Anduril co-founder Palmer Luckey said that if Russian dictator Vladimir Putin had used artificial intelligence, he would have understood that it was not worth starting a war in Ukraine.
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Founder of the American Defense Tech startup Anduril, which helps the American military: «If Putin used artificial intelligence, he would understand that it was not worth starting a war in Ukraine»
