This Autonomous Reusable Fighter Jet Can Blow Up Drones

Drones have become a ubiquitous and formidable threat in modern warfare, posing challenges to conventional air defense systems. But a new product from Anduril, a startup founded by Oculus creator Palmer Luckey, promises to revolutionize the way drones are countered. The product is called Roadrunner, and it is an autonomous, reusable, and modular fighter jet that can take off, track, and destroy enemy drones, and then return to base for refueling and rearming.

Roadrunner is designed to be a low-cost and high-performance solution for air defense, leveraging Anduril’s AI-powered software suite, Lattice, for command and control. A single operator can supervise multiple Roadrunners, which can autonomously navigate to threats and engage them with high-explosive warheads. Roadrunner can also carry other payloads, such as sensors, cameras, or cargo, for various missions. Roadrunner has vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) capabilities, which means it can operate from any terrain and does not require a runway.

Roadrunner is not just a concept, but a reality. Anduril has been working on the product for two years in secret, and has already fielded it with an existing U.S. government customer. Roadrunner has demonstrated its effectiveness in intercepting and destroying drones, as well as its ability to be recovered and reused. Roadrunner is also scalable and adaptable, as it can be integrated with existing defense systems and architectures.

Anduril’s founder and CEO, Palmer Luckey, said that Roadrunner is a response to the emerging threat of low-cost, mass-produced, and autonomous drones, which current defense systems are ill-equipped to handle. He said that Roadrunner is a “fighter jet weapon that lands like a Falcon 9”, referring to SpaceX’s reusable rocket. He also said that Roadrunner is a testament to Anduril’s innovative approach and commitment to using its own resources for research and development.

Roadrunner is a game-changer in the field of air defense, and a sign of the future of warfare. It is a product that combines cutting-edge technology, versatility, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness, to create a new class of autonomous air vehicles that can protect human pilots and assist on missions. Roadrunner is a product that showcases Anduril’s vision of creating a new-age defense tech and weapons maker, and a product that could make a difference in the world.