Anduril, Rheinmetall Partner to Produce Drones, Propulsion for Europe
Anduril and Rheinmetall have launched a strategic partnership to co-develop and produce autonomous aerial and propulsion systems for European defense forces.
The agreement covers the integration of Anduril’s European variants of the Barracuda and Fury autonomous air vehicles into Rheinmetall’s “Battlesuite” digital platform, and joint exploration into solid rocket motor production.
At its core, the deal emphasizes speed, modularity, and a “built with, not for” philosophy that allows European allies to maintain control over the technology, produce it locally, and tailor it to their specific requirements.
This approach contrasts with the traditional vendor lock-in model, which often creates a dependency on American defense manufacturers and would address potential concerns over US defense commitments amid the war between Ukraine and Russia.
“This is a different model of defense collaboration, one built on shared production, operational relevance, and mutual respect for sovereignty,” said Anduril CEO Brian Schimpf.
Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger noted that the partnership builds on that foundation to “bring new kinds of autonomous capabilities into service, ones that are quick to produce, modular, and aligned with NATO’s evolving requirements.”
This follows a June 2024 partnership between the US defense company and the German arms manufacturer to jointly design and manufacture a layered counter-drone system for European customers.
Anduril’s Autonomous Systems
Launched in September 2024, the Barracuda is a low-cost, modular, and mass-producible drone that can act like a cruise missile.
Meanwhile, the Fury is a multi-mission Group 5 aerial system, weighing over 1,320 pounds (598 kilograms) and traveling at around Mach 1. It is integrated with Anduril’s Lattice artificial intelligence-driven command and control software.
Its long-range and stealth capabilities enable it to support combat and surveillance roles, such as the US Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft program, meant for manned-unmanned teaming.
