U.S. Army picks Anduril for next-gen counter drone system

The US Army has chosen Anduril Industries to deliver its Integrated Battle Command System Manoeuvre programme, establishing the company’s Lattice software as the service’s next fire control platform for counter-UAS missions, the company stated.

The decision reflects the Army’s push to manage high-volume drone threats that can overwhelm traditional command systems. According to Anduril, IBCS-M is intended to act as the command, control and integration core for a wide range of counter-drone sensors and effectors, allowing a single operator to handle multiple airborne threats at once.

During a recent demonstration at Yuma Proving Grounds, Anduril said Lattice integrated an undisclosed sensor and effector in a matter of hours, then completed four live-fire intercepts. The company said the trial also showcased autonomy-supported fire control, distributed tracking and optimised kill-chain execution.

Alex Miller, the Army’s chief technology officer, said the demands of counter-UAS operations require rapid integration and flexibility. “We can’t think of counter-UAS as static or in the same vein as counter ballistic missile defense. It has to be maneuverable which means it has to be software centric and adaptable above all else,” he said. “We can’t wait a year for a new sensor or effector to be integrated and we can’t tell our deployed soldiers that we have to wait for an FSR to solve the problem.”

The IBCS-M effort sits within a wider Army modernisation plan intended to replace legacy command systems with open, extensible architectures that can evolve at the pace of autonomous threats.

Matt Steckman, Anduril’s president and chief business officer, said the programme aligns with the company’s work over recent years. “We’re uniquely positioned to deliver on the Army’s vision because Anduril helped define the new frontier of air defense technology,” he said. “Our work in autonomous systems and command and control has built the foundation for this moment.”

According to Anduril, the partnership aims to create a unified command and control environment that improves situational awareness and shortens the time between detection and engagement.