Defense technology firm Anduril Industries is facing heightened scrutiny following a string of performance failures across multiple autonomous weapons platforms, according to a new investigation by The Wall Street Journal.

The report highlights several setbacks during recent U.S. military trials. In May, more than a dozen unmanned surface vessels — commonly referred to as drone boats — malfunctioned during a Navy exercise off the California coast. Sailors involved in the drills reportedly raised concerns over safety lapses, warning that the issues posed potential risks to personnel and equipment.

The challenges did not end there. Over the summer, Anduril’s unmanned jet, the Fury, suffered engine damage during a ground test due to a mechanical fault. In August, the company’s Anvil counter-drone system sparked a 22-acre wildfire in Oregon during another test event, the Journal reports.

Founded in 2017 by tech entrepreneur Palmer Luckey, Anduril has quickly become one of the most prominent players in the defense-tech sector. The company secured a massive $2.5 billion funding round in June at a valuation of $30.5 billion, led by Founders Fund, one of the company’s earliest backers. Over the years, Anduril has landed several major contracts to develop autonomous aircraft, surveillance tools, and counter-drone technologies for U.S. and allied militaries.

However, the company’s real-world performance abroad has also drawn criticism. Ukrainian soldiers within the SBU security service reportedly struggled with Anduril’s Altius loitering munitions on the battlefield. According to the Journal, the drones frequently crashed or failed to strike intended targets, leading frontline units to cease using the system entirely in 2024.

Anduril insists the difficulties seen in both testing and combat environments are not indicative of deeper flaws. The company maintains that such problems are common in the development of cutting-edge weapons and says its engineering teams continue to make significant progress across all platforms.

Despite these assurances, the series of incidents has prompted renewed debate over the reliability and readiness of rapidly advancing autonomous military systems — and whether companies racing to dominate the field can keep pace with the real-world risks tied to frontline deployment.

Source: Techcrunch