Securing America's Future: How Technology Companies and Washington Are Building A Safer World

Summary

Brian Schimpf, CEO of Anduril Industries, shares his insights on the evolving defense industry landscape. He discusses the increased acceptance of new entrants and startups within the Department of Defense, highlighting Anduril's work on the Air Force's Loyal Wingman project involving autonomous fighter jets. Schimpf emphasizes the importance of addressing critical warfighter needs with urgency, focusing on rapidly developing technologies to counter emerging threats like drones. He stresses the need for faster adoption of commercial innovations and advanced manufacturing approaches to scale production quickly. Schimpf advises aspiring defense tech companies to prioritize solving urgent problems that can meaningfully impact the DoD.

Takeaways

• 🔓 Traditionally, it was very difficult for new companies to break into the defense industry, but this has become more feasible in recent years.
• 🚀 Anduril is working with the U.S. Air Force on the Loyal Wingman project, which involves developing autonomous fighter jets, signaling a shift towards allowing new entrants to work on large-scale defense projects.
• 🌍 The changing threat landscape, with developments like the war in Ukraine, has highlighted the need for new autonomous technologies and approaches to warfare.
• ⚡ The U.S. Department of Defense is pushing initiatives like Project Replicator to rapidly field thousands of autonomous systems and drones, adopting a faster pace of innovation and acquisition.
• 🛠️ Anduril's business model focuses on developing hardware to enable advanced software capabilities, anticipating future threats and designing solutions accordingly.
• 🛡️ There is an urgent need for counter-drone technologies, with adversaries rapidly advancing their capabilities, prompting Anduril to invest in solutions like the Roadrunner counter-drone system.
• 🏭 Scaling manufacturing and production is a critical aspect, with Anduril leveraging advanced manufacturing techniques and automation to meet demand.
• 🌟 To succeed in the defense industry, companies must focus on solving urgent warfighter needs and problems that will have a meaningful impact, rather than peripheral issues.
• 💰 The U.S. Department of Defense is exploring new acquisition strategies, such as Project Replicator, to curate a diverse industrial base and encourage competition.
• 🇺🇸 The U.S. aims to establish leadership in autonomous technologies and set norms and ethics, as adversaries like China also invest heavily in this area.

Q & A

What was the primary challenge Anduril faced when they first started working in the defense space?

According to the CEO, when Anduril first started working in the defense space around 15-17 years ago, it was nearly impossible for new companies to break into the industry and do anything substantial. It was challenging to imagine that new entrants could work on large-scale projects like weapons or aircraft.

How has the landscape changed for new companies in the defense industry?

The landscape has shifted significantly. Today, Anduril is fortunate to be working with the Air Force on the Loyal Wingman project, which involves autonomous fighter jets. This represents a massive change from when the company started, and it is now possible for new entrants to work on large-scale projects.

What is the Loyal Wingman project, and what is Anduril's role in it?

The Loyal Wingman project is an Air Force initiative to develop autonomous fighter jets. Anduril is one of the companies working with the Air Force on this project, although specific details are limited due to the sensitive nature of the work.

How does the CEO view the Air Force's approach to the Loyal Wingman project?

The CEO commends the Air Force for constructing an opportunity to use acquisition strategies to curate the industrial base differently. By involving multiple participants, the Air Force is incentivizing the industrial base to invest in these new technologies, which is a significant deal.

How does the changing threat landscape impact the need for new capabilities?

The CEO cites lessons from the conflict in Ukraine, where large quantities of systems are being put at risk, and assumptions about air superiority are being challenged. The ability to use autonomous systems represents a new way of operating, which will change how we think about warfighting.

What is the significance of the Replicator initiative mentioned in the script?

The Replicator initiative aims to field thousands of autonomous systems and drones over the next couple of years, at a much faster pace than traditional defense acquisition processes. This aligns with the types of technologies Anduril has been building and thinking about for years.

How does Anduril's business model differ from traditional defense contractors?

Anduril's business model involves designing and building hardware to enable and propel software development. They anticipate where threats are headed and develop capabilities accordingly, even if the DoD hasn't officially recognized the need yet.

What is the Roadrunner technology mentioned by the CEO, and how does it address emerging threats?

Roadrunner is a vertical takeoff and landing counter-drone system developed by Anduril. It addresses the growing threat of adversaries using drones and cruise missiles, which have become more pervasive and capable in recent years.

What challenges does the CEO identify in scaling manufacturing for defense products?

The CEO acknowledges that the traditional industrial base in the US for defense is often at the point of retirement, with facilities and personnel aging out. However, he believes there is a new generation of manufacturing companies in the US that can leverage advanced automation and smart approaches to scale production.

What advice does the CEO offer to others looking to work with the DoD?

The CEO advises that the most important thing is to focus on solving critical warfighter needs and urgent problems that will have a meaningful impact for the Department. Addressing problems that don't have urgency or won't move the needle is a trap that many fall into.