Anduril Industries unveils Altius 700M a new loitering munition.

On March 14, 2024, Anduril Industries released dramatic footage showcasing the effectiveness of its latest loitering munition, the Altius 700M, during a test conducted in September. The video captured the drone striking a mock Russian SA-17 surface-to-air missile launcher with a live warhead, highlighting the munition's impressive capabilities in a real test environment.
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The Altius-700M offers superior payload capacity, leading loitering duration, and enhanced autonomy for executing precise, coordinated attacks (Picture source: Anduril )

The Altius 700M is the newest addition to Anduril's Altius family, which includes the 600/600M and 700/700M models. According to Anduril, the test carried out at the Dugway Proving Ground in Utah, demonstrated the Altius 700M's precision and reliability by achieving direct hits on six targets over six separate missions.

Launched from a ground vehicle during the test, the munition displayed remarkable range capabilities, reaching up to 100 miles with a flight time of 75 minutes, features Anduril describes as "class-leading". The Altius's straight-wing flight configuration is reminiscent of both the larger Predator drone and various small UAVs seen on battlefields such as Ukraine, as well as the A-10 Warthog combat aircraft.

Anduril's video aims to not only showcase the Altius 700M's destructive power but also its versatility in deployment from various platforms, including MRZR light infantry vehicles and UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters. This suggests significant operational flexibility for armed forces potentially interested in this technology.

The expressed interest by the Army's Project Manager for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (PM UAS) in the non-munitions variant of the Altius (Altius 700) indicates a desire to expand the Army's ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Targeting) capabilities. An additional demonstration of the Altius 700 is scheduled for the end of fiscal year 2024, with a deployment decision expected in 2025.

Screen capture of the video of the Altius-700M loitering munition test showing the drone hitting a simulated Russian SA-17 surface-to-air missile launcher (Picture source: Anduril )

Despite the demonstrated potential of the Altius 700M stealth munition, Anduril has kept details regarding the technology's cost and its first customer confidential. However, the Dugway tests confirm the weapon's advanced level of maturity, suggesting its upcoming integration into military forces. The company has also invested over $60 million in a new production facility in Atlanta, Georgia, to scale up the manufacturing of Altius, indicating the significance of this project.

As effective countermeasures against small drones evolve rapidly, notably in Ukraine, the Altius 700M positions itself as a potentially formidable weapon on the battlefield, combining precision, power, and adaptability. Future developments will determine its real impact on modern defense strategies.

Defense News March 2024