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Copperhead Drones by Anduril Signal Shift in Autonomous Naval Operations for Collaborative and Offensive Missions.
On April 7, 2025, at the Sea Air Space exhibition, U.S. defense technology company Anduril Industries unveiled Copperhead, a new family of modular, uncrewed underwater vehicles (UUVs) with torpedo-like profiles. These autonomous systems are designed to be launched from larger underwater drones such as the Dive-XL, also known as Ghost Shark. The launch is part of Anduril’s broader strategy to reshape underwater warfare by introducing affordable, mass-producible systems capable of operating collaboratively alongside both autonomous and manned platforms in increasingly contested maritime environments. Copperhead’s debut follows the previous week’s announcement of the Seabed Sentry, a submarine surveillance system also potentially capable of deploying Copperhead drones.
The Copperhead-M is a reusable torpedo-like weapon designed for autonomous platforms to strike maritime threats with reduced risk to crewed systems. (Picture source: Anduril)
The Copperhead family currently comprises two main models, the Copperhead-100 and Copperhead-500, each available in a munition version designated Copperhead-M. These UUVs measure approximately 2.7 meters and 4 meters in length, with diameters of 12.75 inches and 21 inches, respectively. Unlike traditional torpedoes with cylindrical shapes—such as the Mk 48 and Mk 54 currently in U.S. Navy service—Copperhead features a rectangular structure, a design choice that simplifies manufacturing and reduces production costs. The Copperhead-100 is dimensionally comparable to the lightweight Mk 54 torpedo, while the Copperhead-500 aligns more closely with the heavier Mk 48. Despite these similarities, the Copperhead drones are significantly lighter and can reach speeds of over 30 knots, though specific propulsion systems have not yet been disclosed.
The Copperhead-M variant marks a significant evolution by offering a dedicated underwater strike capability for uncrewed platforms. According to Anduril, it is the first torpedo-like weapon designed specifically for autonomous system deployment. The Dive-XL can carry multiple Copperhead-500Ms or dozens of Copperhead-100Ms, enabling concentrated strike capabilities to neutralize or destroy maritime threats from a distance while minimizing risk to manned assets. Additionally, the Copperhead-Ms are designed to be recoverable and reusable, unlike conventional single-use torpedoes, enhancing their cost-effectiveness.
Beyond offensive missions, Copperhead’s modular design allows it to be equipped for various other tasks. Each unit can be fitted with a range of sensors, including side-scan sonar, chemical detectors, magnetometers, and both active and passive acoustic sensors. These capabilities make Copperhead suitable for civilian applications such as search and rescue, environmental monitoring, and critical underwater infrastructure inspection. The system is also integrated with Anduril’s Lattice software, an artificial intelligence- enabled framework that facilitates data sharing, coordination, and communication between systems in low-bandwidth underwater environments. Through Lattice, Copperhead can be programmed with user-defined engagement parameters and updated through software as threat signatures evolve.
Anduril also indicates that Copperhead may be deployed from alternative platforms, including aerial systems, reinforcing its interoperability within a networked ecosystem of autonomous assets. The Dive-LD, another Anduril UUV already tested by the U.S. Navy, is also listed as a compatible launch platform. This aligns with the U.S. Navy’s broader efforts to field large-displacement UUVs such as Boeing’s Orca, to establish a hybrid fleet that combines manned and unmanned systems.
As countries like China and Russia accelerate their underwater drone development programs, Anduril sees Copperhead as a potentially key asset in future maritime conflicts. In the Indo-Pacific region, where the U.S. identifies the strategic challenge posed by the People’s Republic of China as largely maritime, Copperhead is tailored to operate in this high-risk domain. In Europe, Russia continues investing in manned and unmanned underwater capabilities, maintaining a significant subsurface presence with increasingly quiet and hard-to-detect submarines. Copperhead is positioned to augment—not replace—traditional crewed submarines, expanding maritime control and deterrence capabilities at reduced operational costs.
Anduril states that its production system is designed to manufacture hundreds to thousands of Copperhead units annually, a pace that contrasts with the limited output of traditional torpedoes. By offering a system that is cost-efficient, modular, interconnected, and potentially reusable, Copperhead introduces a new toolset for modern undersea operations. Suitable for both military and civil use, it reflects the rapid evolution of autonomous underwater technologies that are set to play a growing role in global maritime security strategies.