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Anduril Launches Compact Bolt & Bolt-M Autonomous Drones for Precision Firepower and Reconnaissance.
On October 10, 2024, Anduril Industries unveiled the Bolt family, a series of portable, single-operator vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) autonomous aerial vehicles designed to meet various operational needs. This lineup includes the Bolt, which is dedicated to intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions as well as search and rescue operations, and the Bolt-M, an advanced variant that offers precision firepower with automated tracking and strike capabilities. Both models are user-friendly, allowing operators to focus on strategic decisions rather than navigation, thereby supporting a wide range of tactical operations.
Anduril Industries unveiled the Bolt family. (Picture source: Anduril)
The Bolt-M system was developed in response to the growing demand for loitering munitions that are low-cost and easy to handle, leveraging commercial drone technologies to cut costs and simplify production. This variant reduces the need for specialized training by automating complex piloting tasks for target location and engagement, enabling operators to concentrate on decision-making while minimizing the cognitive load typical of first-person view (FPV) drones.
With a robust operational range of 20 kilometers and a flight endurance exceeding 40 minutes, Bolt-M enhances ground forces’ capabilities with lethal precision. Capable of carrying a military payload of up to 1.4 kilograms, it targets static or mobile ground entities, including light vehicles and fortified positions. Operators can customize engagement strategies with flexible options such as waypoint navigation, target tracking, and adjustable engagement distances, enhancing responsiveness on the battlefield.
At the core of Bolt-M’s efficiency is its integration with Anduril's Lattice platform, which provides advanced artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities for automated target tracking and engagement. A simple touch interface allows operators to adjust Bolt-M’s navigation and tracking in real time, adapting to the dynamic battlefield environment. By drawing a box around any visible target, operators can direct Bolt-M to follow it, maintaining visual or acoustic coverage and ensuring a precise strike when needed.
The platform provides enhanced situational control, allowing operators to set a standoff position to monitor targets from a distance, even when they move or are partially concealed. During engagement, users can define the optimal strike angle, while advanced vision algorithms maintain terminal guidance, even in cases of connectivity loss.
Bolt-M further expands the potential of interconnected battlefield technologies. As a software-defined platform, it integrates into a broader ecosystem via Lattice, sharing data with both Anduril and third-party platforms to offer commanders a unified and actionable view of the operational theater.
The Bolt family is designed for ease of operation, reliability, and enhanced security. The Bolt-M ground control station (GCS) is compact and optimized for intuitive use, combining essential functions such as training, mission planning, and weapons systems integration in a handheld device familiar to operators. Its modular structure allows adaptation to various munitions, including warheads co-developed with Kraken Kinetics, enabling operators to configure Bolt-M for anti-personnel or anti-materiel missions as needed. Batteries can be swapped quickly, allowing for rapid redeployment and mission continuity.
Safety is also a priority, with integrated physical and software safety mechanisms. An electronic safe and arm device (ESAD) allows operators to disarm the system for secure transport, return to base, or redeployment.
The Bolt series is designed for rapid deployment in varied environments. With its lightweight and compact design, any operator can carry and deploy Bolt or Bolt-M in under five minutes, enabling ground forces to access immediate precision firepower. As a VTOL AAV, Bolt requires no launch equipment and operates effectively in cluttered or confined environments, equipped with cameras that switch between EO and IR modes for 24-hour operational capability.