Anduril Scoops $200m CUAS Deal To Equip U.S. Marines

Drone specialist Anduril has secured a deal to develop Counter Unmanned Aerial System (CUAS) capabilities for the U.S. Marine Corps as part of the Marine Air Defense Integrated System (MADIS).

As per a recent company press statement, the firm has just won a $200 million, five-year Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract to protect the Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) from new air threats. The CUAS Engagement System (CES) will make use of Anduril's Anvil and Anvil-M interceptors, which are autonomous quadcopter drones designed principally to attack other types of UAS.

The Anvil system, which can hit speeds of up to 200mph, uses onboard computing and sensors to track and then ram or explode beside its acquired targets. It is designed to counter what the U.S. military classes as Type 1 and Type 2 drones, i.e. those weighing less than 55lbs, flying lower than 3,500 ft and at speeds of les than about 300mph.

Anvil can be integrated into Anduril's Lattice system, a command-and-control operating system that integrates sensor fusion, computer vision, edge computing, decision aids, and artificial intelligence to streamline decision-making.

“This contract represents a significant milestone in Anduril’s partnership with the U.S. Marine Corps,” said Chris Brose, Chief Strategy Officer at Anduril Industries.

“By leveraging advanced AI and autonomy, Anduril’s CES will provide the Marines with a robust and scalable solution to counter evolving drone threats, ensuring greater protection and operational effectiveness on the battlefield.”

• You can read more details on the Anduril website