In the sun-soaked headquarters of Anduril Industries in Costa Mesa, California, Palmer Luckey, the company’s co-founder, is on a mission to reshape the future of warfare. Dressed in his signature Hawaiian shirt, shorts, and thongs, Luckey exudes a laid-back Californian vibe, but his vision for defence technology is anything but casual. As we step into the company’s sprawling facility, a repurposed Los Angeles Times printing press building, it becomes clear that Anduril is not just another tech firm—it’s a hub of innovation, blending cutting-edge software with hard-hitting military hardware.
Luckey’s passion for defence technology is palpable as he speaks about the critical role of localised weapons production in modern conflict. “You want China to know that these types of things exist,” he says, emphasising the importance of autonomous systems like the Ghost Shark, an underwater drone designed and built in Australia. This focus on local production is not just about capability—it’s about resilience. “In a conflict with China, Taiwan needs to be able to continue to build cruise missiles so it can fight an occupation,” Luckey explains. The Ghost Shark, with its localised production capabilities, ensures that Australia can maintain its defence readiness even if sea lanes are compromised.
The conference room at Anduril’s headquarters could easily be mistaken for a set from a Bond film, though with a more natural, wood-toned aesthetic. As we gather around a massive wooden table, Luckey paints a vivid picture of future warfare. He draws an analogy between Taiwan’s potential defence capabilities and a hypothetical scenario where Afghanistan, during the US occupation, was a global tech powerhouse. “It would have been a very, very different occupation,” he muses, highlighting the transformative power of advanced engineering in defence.
Anduril’s facility is a testament to its commitment to innovation and rapid prototyping. Engineers, technicians, and welders work side by side, crafting high-tech weapons in small batches. The company’s ability to sustain weapons production at scale is crucial, Luckey insists, especially in the face of growing geopolitical tensions. Anduril’s portfolio includes the Ghost Shark, Fury autonomous warfighters, and Barracuda cruise missiles, all designed to give democracies an edge in modern conflict.
Yet, the company’s approach has not been without criticism. Professor Elke Schwarz of Queen Mary University of London argues that defence tech companies promote “a fantasy of omniscience and omnipotence” that doesn’t align with the unpredictable nature of warfare. Similarly, Dr Robin Vanderborght of the University of Antwerp and Dr Anna Nadibaidze of the University of Southern Denmark Centre for War Studies question the ideological underpinnings of Anduril’s mission, suggesting that the company’s strategies could undermine the democratic values it claims to defend.
Despite these criticisms, Anduril remains steadfast in its mission. The company produces compelling animations and sizzle reels of its AI-driven autonomous weaponry, not just to showcase its capabilities but to ensure that adversaries are aware of what they’re up against. “In the information era, your adversaries must be aware of what you have, and your capacity to mass produce the weapons, so they can shape their risk calculus,” Luckey explains.
Luckey’s vision extends beyond hardware. He believes that for democracies to prevail in a protracted conflict, the population must have the will to fight. This sentiment is echoed in the company’s internal communications, where Luckey, in his printed newsletter Palmer Press, urges employees to “absorb the negative energy and use it to push ourselves even harder.”
As we tour the facility, it becomes clear that Anduril is not just building weapons—it’s crafting a narrative. The walls are adorned with the names of inventors and designers like Johannes Gutenberg and Charles and Ray Eames, a nod to the company’s mission to innovate and adapt. “There is no secret government silo of advanced technology that will save us if war breaks out—you must build it,” reads a quote on one wall, encapsulating Anduril’s ethos.
In a world where geopolitical tensions are on the rise, Anduril Industries stands at the forefront of defence innovation. With its focus on localised production, cutting-edge technology, and a deep understanding of modern warfare, the company is not just preparing for the future—it’s shaping it. As Palmer Luckey and his team continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible, one thing is clear: the battlefields of tomorrow will be defined by the innovations of today.