Anduril and the Promise of Autonomous Systems - with Chris Brose
faster, attritable, scalable,
Summary
In this conversation, Chris Brose, President and Chief Strategy Officer of Anduril, discusses the company’s mission to revolutionize defense technology by integrating commercial innovations into military applications. He emphasizes the need for mass-producible military capabilities, the importance of adaptability in modern warfare, and the challenges posed by the current U.S. acquisition system. Brose also highlights the significance of collaborative combat systems and international partnerships, particularly through the Ghost Shark program with the Australian Navy. He expresses optimism about the future of U.S. defense, advocating for a shift towards a more agile and innovative approach to military production and strategy.
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Chapters
00:00: Introduction to Anduril and Its Mission
04:26: The Unique Position of Anduril in Defense
09:02: The Shift in Military Strategy and Production Needs
13:11: Designing for Mass Production and Scalability
17:50: Innovations in Collaborative Combat Systems
23:35: The Ghost Shark Program and International Collaboration
28:02: Challenges in the U.S. Acquisition System
34:34: Deployability and Operational Integration of New Systems
39:41: Cost-Effective Solutions for Modern Warfare
45:01: Optimism for the Future of U.S. Defense
@ Rockwell Torrey: Except Anduril has been delivering what they promised for several years, and they’ve forced their way into the military’s circle by out-delivering their sclerotic rivals and doing so at a price and speed that was unknown (certainly since WW2).
Other than that, they’re exactly like Theranos
Anduril founder, Palmer Luckey, sat down in an interview with the Free Press last week.(https://www.thefp.com/p/palmer-luckey-and-the-future-of-american-power) Apologies if it's pay-walled.
One of the key take-aways I got from the conversation was Anduril's focus on building things cheaper and easier. Luckey spoke about how WWII was won because the tanks and aircraft were designed to be built in common factories like automotive and appliance manufacturers already built. He wants the US to be the "gun store to the world" and that means keeping product on the shelves. It's a refreshing change from the current "few and exquisite" mindset of defense contractors.