Anduril confident in Trump-era defence priorities

Anduril, the AI-powered defence start-up founded by Palmer Luckey, is optimistic about the Trump administration’s approach to defence reform.

Company president Christian Brose said the administration’s focus on innovation aligns with Anduril’s work in low-cost autonomous military systems. The firm recently partnered with OpenAI to integrate advanced artificial intelligence into national security missions.

Brose, a former adviser to Senator John McCain, has long criticised traditional defence procurement processes and believes the administration’s willingness to do things differently presents a major opportunity.

The company is expanding its global footprint, with plans to build manufacturing facilities outside the United States. Australia has emerged as a key market, with Anduril’s AI intrusion detection software being trialled at RAAF Base Darwin, where US Marines rotate annually.

The firm is also bidding to produce solid rocket motors for Australia’s Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance Enterprise.

Its Ghost Shark autonomous underwater system, developed in collaboration with the Australian Defence Force, is moving towards large-scale production, with a dedicated facility planned in New South Wales.

Autonomous military technology is a growing focus under the AUKUS treaty, which will see Australia invest heavily in nuclear-powered submarines with the support from the United States and the United Kingdom.

Brose emphasised that both crewed and autonomous systems will play a role in modern defence strategies, with the advantage of autonomous platforms being their faster production, larger deployment scale, and lower cost.

Anduril’s continued expansion highlights the increasing demand for AI-driven defence solutions in a rapidly evolving global security landscape.

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