Southern California-based defense technology and weapons manufacturer Anduril Industries has introduced a game-changing weapon called Roadrunner in response to the growing threat of combat drones.
With military-grade drones becoming more accessible to terrorist groups, Anduril hopes to counter this danger with its innovative solution. This move marks a paradigm shift in the defense industry’s approach toward countering the threat of drones.
Developed Covertly Over the Last Two Years
Roadrunner, developed covertly over the last two years, stands out as a miniature autonomous fighter jet equipped with a warhead. This unmanned (or uncrewed) aerial vehicle (UAV) addresses the growing drone threat, functioning like a rocket at takeoff and transforming into a high-speed plane.
Notably, Roadrunner possesses a unique capability to return home, land, and be reused, distinguishing it from its counterparts in defense technology.
Roadrunner is a reusable, vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL), operator-supervised Autonomous Air Vehicle (AAV) equipped with twin turbojet engines and modular payload configurations that support a variety of missions.
Roadrunner-M and Nest
With high-subsonic speeds, extreme maneuverability, modular payloads, and continuous software upgrades, Roadrunner can accomplish a wide variety of missions today while enabling flexibility for mission sets of tomorrow. The specifications provided by Anduril highlight its innovative features, positioning it as a cutting-edge solution to counter the evolving drone threat.
Roadrunner-M, a variant designed for ground-based air defense, serves as a high-explosive interceptor. It can rapidly launch, identify, intercept, and destroy various aerial threats. Notably, Roadrunner-M can be safely recovered and relaunched at near-zero cost, presenting a cost-effective and efficient solution to counter drone attacks.
Roadrunner M
To further enhance the capabilities of Roadrunner, Anduril also introduced Nest—an automated hangar designed for easy transport, maintenance, and launch of Roadrunner.
Nest is a networked facility with integrated environmental stability systems and health monitoring, ensuring that Roadrunner is always ready to launch within seconds. This innovative approach streamlines the operational process, providing operators with a reliable infrastructure to manage and deploy Roadrunner effectively.
Roadrunner Nest
While Anduril has kept the price tag under wraps, the company hints that each Roadrunner will be priced in the “low six figures.” This starkly contrasts the exorbitant costs associated with deploying sophisticated counter systems against drones, such as the Patriot missile, which can fetch four times the purported cost of Roadrunner. The startup anticipates a drop in Roadrunner’s price as production scales up and technology evolves.
Growing Drone Attacks and Need for Counter Solutions
Dr Neil Thurgood, senior vice president at Anduril, overseeing the Air and Ground Deterrence Division, including Air Defense, Counter-Intrusion, and Rocket Motor Systems, said, “U.S. troops have been attacked a staggering 73 times in recent weeks due to a surge in low-cost, mass-produced drones that have given adversaries the upper hand.
Unfortunately, air defenders now face a daily dilemma of whether to use expensive and limited stocks of missiles against cheap drones our adversaries can afford to lose.”
As a recent CSIS report highlights, the entire joint force is compelled to focus on countering small and mid-sized drones that exploit the gaps in overlapping air defenses. The report emphasizes the need for effective and affordable alternatives to employing multi-million-dollar missiles against drones worth a fraction of that cost.
Sources: Website; Interesting Engineering