U.S. Air Force Selects Anduril to Develop Launcher for Counter-Air Missile Program

U.S. Air Force Selects Anduril to Develop Launcher for Counter-Air Missile Program

Sustaining air combat in a high-intensity conflict requires missiles the U.S. Air Force can afford to buy in large numbers and industry can produce at scale. Through the Counter-Air Missile Program (CAMP), the service is developing lower-cost, ground-launched missiles to expand its arsenal and containerized launchers to employ them.

The Air Force has awarded Anduril a prototype contract to develop a containerized launcher for CAMP. Anduril is developing a launcher that could integrate missiles from different companies and can operate across dispersed locations for extended periods with minimal personnel support.

CAMP prioritizes affordability and producibility, drawing on mature technology to accelerate development and simplify manufacturing. The launcher supports those goals by providing the power, computing, thermal management, communications, and software infrastructure that different missiles need. Missile developers can integrate their weapons with that infrastructure rather than build custom solutions for each one.

Anduril's approach builds on hardware and software we have already developed and tested. Our Menace-I computing system integrates power, cooling, computing, and communications into a rugged, containerized shelter that military aircraft and ground equipment can transport. We will draw on that experience to meet CAMP's requirements while reducing the logistical burden of deploying and sustaining launch systems.

Under the CAMP contract, Anduril will adapt our launcher design to support missiles from the program's Ground Launched Counter Air (GLCA) effort, which is developing affordable, long-range offensive counter air missiles to engage enemy aircraft from the ground. Over the initial 10 months, we will work closely with the Air Force program office to advance the preliminary design and prepare the launcher for testing with missiles from other companies. Anduril is incorporating manufacturing requirements into the design from the outset, including component selection, assembly, supply chain, testing, and tooling. If the Air Force selects the launcher for production, this work will reduce production costs and allow us to rapidly scale deliveries.

Successful prototyping could pave the way for future production, helping the Air Force field affordable counter-air capabilities at greater scale.