Anduril Industries Secures U.S. DoD Contract for Launched Effects Technology Development.

Anduril Industries has been awarded a $9 million contract by the U.S. Department of Defense to develop and demonstrate launched effects technology using the Agile-Launched, Tactically Integrated Unmanned System (ALTIUS). This contract, managed by the Army Contracting Command at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is part of a broader effort by the U.S. military to explore advanced unmanned systems capable of operating across multiple domains. The project is scheduled for completion by September 16, 2029.
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This new contract builds on recent developments in the U.S. Army's exploration of launched effects technology, particularly focusing on Anduril’s ALTIUS 700 model (Picture source: Anduril)

The ALTIUS platform, developed by Anduril Industries, is a multi-mission system designed to be launched from ground, air, or sea. Its capabilities range from standoff Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Targeting (ISR&T) to kinetic engagements, radio frequency decoy operations, signals intelligence (SIGINT), communications relay, and even cyber warfare tasks. The flexibility of the system, which can be deployed across various platforms, makes it an integral part of the U.S. military's efforts to enhance operational capabilities in contested environments.

This new contract builds on recent developments in the U.S. Army's exploration of launched effects technology, particularly focusing on Anduril’s ALTIUS 700 model. Earlier this year, the Army indicated plans to make a rapid fielding decision by 2025 for a prototype based on the ALTIUS 700. The U.S. Army Special Operations Aviation Command (USASOAC) has been evaluating how to integrate these capabilities, with small drones being deployed from other platforms mid-flight. In December 2023, the Army conducted a test flight of the ALTIUS 700 prototype from a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, which provided crucial data on launch, flight, landing, and recovery. This test was part of a broader risk reduction strategy, ensuring the system's reliability before moving toward full deployment.

Anduril Industries leads the development of the ALTIUS 700 air vehicle, with Collins Aerospace providing the mission system, and Aurora Flight Sciences serving as the integrator. Several other companies contribute to the system's payload capabilities. Further tests are planned throughout 2024, with the Army focusing on a fully integrated version of the launched effects system. If successful, a final operational test will guide the Army’s rapid fielding decision in fiscal year 2025.

The U.S. Army sees launched effects as essential for large-scale combat operations, enabling advanced collaboration between manned and unmanned systems. These systems are expected to enhance commanders' ability to detect, identify, locate, and target threats in challenging operational environments. The ALTIUS 700 has played a significant role in these efforts, but the Army is also testing smaller versions, such as the ALTIUS 600, and is considering new designs and payload configurations.

The flexibility of the ALTIUS system, particularly its ability to launch from various platforms and accommodate multiple payload types, underscores its potential value in future combat scenarios. The Army is particularly interested in short-range systems capable of deploying payloads like electro-optical/infrared sensors, kinetic kill systems, communications relays, and radio frequency decoys.

This contract award signals continued investment by the U.S. military in developing unmanned systems capable of enhancing operational effectiveness across multiple domains, including ground, air, and sea operations.

The flexibility of the ALTIUS system, particularly its ability to launch from various platforms and accommodate multiple payload types, underscores its potential value in future combat scenarios (Picture source: Anduril)