Defense tech startup Anduril has developed a new product aimed at countering the proliferation of low-cost, high-power aerial threats. The product, called "Roadrunner", is a modular twin-jet autonomous vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft with low design cost. Anduril has also developed a variant called "Roadrunner-Munition" (or "Roadrunner-M"), which is a "high-explosive interceptor," meaning it can carry warheads and also defensively destroy air threats.
"Zouque" is unique in its appearance and capabilities: it can take off, track and destroy targets; if there is no need to intercept targets, the aircraft can autonomously maneuver back to base for refueling and reuse. As Anduril chief strategy officer Chris Brose said in a recent interview: "We're building a fighter-like weapon that lands like a Falcon 9."
Burrows said the product is in response to the rise of fast-moving autonomous aerial weapons, which can be produced in high volumes and at low cost and represent a new threat. Unlike other solutions today and previous conventional missile systems, Roadrunner-M is also reusable.
"In my opinion, this is the first recoverable weapon ever. It's a cool thing. If it's not actually used during an operation to hunt another drone, the ability to deploy it [...] to recover and reuse it completely changes the way operators operate with this capability. Today, the military has a limited number of interceptors," Burrows said.
Anduril said the drone has several other major improvements compared to conventional systems: faster launch and takeoff times, three times the warhead payload capacity, ten times the effective range and three times the maneuverability under G-forces. Like other Anduril systems, Roadrunner-M can be controlled by Anduril's artificial intelligence command and control software, Lattice, or integrated into existing architectures.
Another big advantage is that it is very operator-friendly: when faced with a fast-moving threat, Roadrunner can instantly launch, image, and then receive a signal whether to engage or not. Because the product is reusable and recyclable, operators can operate with confidence without fear of losing expensive assets.
Brose said it has been working closely with an unnamed U.S. government partner since it began designing the Magpie two years ago.
"[Defense] tends to be seen as very dull, very slow, unimaginative, very bland, and that's the right stereotype," Broser said. "Anduril, I think as a company, is the antithesis of that stereotype, and 'Quick' embodies that exciting feeling that we think exists in the defense space, and we're very eager to try and bring that back."