Anduril revolutionises air defence: Roadrunner interceptor drone goes into series production

Anduril Industries, a US-based company specialising in advanced defence technologies, announced the start of large-scale production of its interceptor drone Roadrunner-Mmarking a turning point in the field of protection against air threats. The decisive step came with the award of a major contract by the US Department of Defence, worth almost USD 250 million. The contract includes the supply of more than 500 Roadrunner-Mflanked by electronic warfare systems Pulsarto strengthen the defence against drones and unmanned aerial systems (UAS) in the most sensitive operational areas.

The news was accompanied by the publication of images showing several already assembled examples, confirming that the system has moved from development to production in record time. Roadrunner-M is a VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) drone, supervised by an operator but with autonomous capabilities. It is powered by two turbojet engines and can take off vertically without the use of boosters, reaching high subsonic speeds, qualities that make it extremely responsive against emerging air threats.

Reusable, modular and already in the field

One of the most innovative features of the Roadrunner-M is its reusability. In its fragmentation warhead configuration, it is designed to destroy airborne targets such as enemy drones or missiles, but if the interception fails, the drone is able to land vertically in a controlled manner, ready to be reused. This approach drastically lowers operational costs and introduces a logic of tactical sustainability never before seen in systems of this type.

The drone has passed operational assessments in real-world conditions as of January 2024, while the Pulsar system has been active in several areas since 2023. Together, they represent a next-generation defence architecture based on artificial intelligence, modularity and rapid response capabilities. Both systems are designed to integrate with existing radars and sensors, facilitating deployment in operational contexts already in use by the US military.

This interoperability, combined with continuously upgradable software, allows Roadrunner to adapt quickly to new threat scenarios. Its modular architecture also allows alternative missions to kinetic interception, making it a flexible and multifunctional tool.

Anduril's new industrial model: fast, private and scalable

The nearly $250 million contract signed with the US Army is a strong indication of the effectiveness of the industrial model chosen by Anduril. Founded in 2017 by Palmer Luckey, the company stands out for its innovative and self-funded approach to military technology development. Unlike traditional programmes, which are often slow and expensive, Anduril has taken Roadrunner from design to the operational field in less than two years.

Planned deliveries between late 2024 and 2025 will provide the US military with an immediately available and highly scalable air defence capability, particularly in operational areas where the drone threat has become more pressing. Roadrunner-M is in fact designed to operate in precisely those contexts: capable of launching in seconds, intercepting targets with high precision and, if necessary, re-entering for re-launch.

With this contract, Anduril reaches almost $350 million in signed agreements with the Department of Defence for advanced air defence systems, proving that innovation and speed are no longer the privilege of civil big tech, but a concrete asset for national security. Roadrunner and Pulsar thus represent not only a new generation of defence tools, but also a new way of conceiving the production, integration and deployment of military technology.