US Army Taps Anduril for Next-Generation Drone Defense Network

The US Army has selected California-based Anduril Industries to upgrade the capability designed to assist troops in tracking and neutralizing unmanned aerial systems (UAS).

The decision follows a months-long competition led by the army’s Program Executive Office Missiles and Space in partnership with the Defense Innovation Unit, in which Anduril outperformed fellow California firm Zone 5 Technologies.

The effort aims to modernize the fire control solution that connects the service’s radar, sensors, and weapons to further match the rising threat posed by adversarial autonomous systems.

“This competition allowed us to rigorously evaluate innovative technologies in a realistic operational environment, ensuring our Soldiers have the tools they need to maintain air superiority,” said Lt. Col. Adam Samiof, product manager for the US Army’s counter-UAS program.

To ‘Outpace’ Enemies

According to the military, the new system will eventually expand to other short-range air defense missions after its initial focus on countering drones.

“We need to ensure that we continuously outpace the threat,” said Col. Guy Yelverton, who leads the US Army’s counter-drone office, according to a report by Breaking Defense.

He added that similar technology competitions will be held every two years to keep pace with advances in drone warfare and private-sector innovation.

The service did not disclose contract details, but sources pointed to Anduril’s recent 10-year deal worth $642 million from the US Marine Corps for a similar UAS countermeasure system, suggesting the army program could be comparable in scale.

Once fielded, the new technology will replace the army’s current Forward Area Air Defense Command and Control or FAAD C2 solution developed by Northrop Grumman, which also competed with its own successor platform AiON.