Are Anduril's autonomous weapons systems up to the mark?
What's the story
Anduril Industries, a US-based defense tech start-up, has encountered major failures in the testing of its autonomous weapons systems. The Wall Street Journal reported that over a dozen drone boats malfunctioned during a Navy exercise off California in May. Sailors had raised alarms about safety violations and the potential for loss of life due to these incidents.
Incidents
Mechanical failure and fire incidents during testing
The report also highlighted a mechanical failure that damaged the engine of Anduril's unmanned jet fighter, the Fury, during a summer ground test. Further, an August test of its Anvil counter-drone system resulted in a 22-acre fire in Oregon. These incidents have raised concerns about the safety and reliability of Anduril's autonomous weapons systems.
Combat challenges
Battlefield performance of Anduril's drones in Ukraine
The battlefield performance of Anduril's drones has also been disappointing. Ukrainian front-line soldiers found that Altius loitering drones crashed and missed their targets. The issues were so severe that these drones were pulled from service in 2024 and have not been used since. However, Anduril insists these problems are common in weapons development and doesn't reflect any fundamental flaws in its technology.
Test failures
Altius drones' performance during US Air Force tests
Two Altius drones crashed during a recent US Air Force test, highlighting a gap between Anduril's claims of battlefield readiness and the actual performance of some of its drones in testing and combat. Despite these setbacks, Anduril has maintained that these incidents are "isolated examples" across hundreds of tests. The company also revealed that the Altius has flown for over 2,000 hours in tests, demonstrations, and deployments.
Software setbacks
Anduril's Ghost drone and command software issues
Along with the Altius drones, Anduril's Ghost drone program and its command and control software, Lattice, have also faced testing issues. The company acknowledged these failures in a blog post but emphasized that they are an essential part of the development process. Despite these challenges, Anduril continues to expand its portfolio of weapons systems under development.