Anduril debuts Bolt, loitering munition on contract with Marine Corps

Anduril Industries has launched a new line of airborne drones called Bolt, designed for surveillance and strike missions, as part of a contract with the Marine Corps.

On October 10, the California-based defense technology company unveiled two versions of the Bolt drone, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

The first is a standard model tailored for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) operations, while the second, known as Bolt-M, functions as a loitering munition. This model is contracted under the Marine Corps' Organic Precision Fires-Light program, which aims to provide small loitering munitions that can easily fit in a rucksack. Competitors for this program include Aerovironment and Teledyne FLIR, with the contract valued at up to $249 million.

Anduril has not disclosed specific details about the contract, including the number of units ordered or the total dollar amount. However, a Pentagon notice from April indicated that the deal has a base value of approximately $6.5 million and includes indefinite delivery and quantity options.

Chris Brose, Anduril’s head of strategy, mentioned that the company is focused on making immediate deliveries over the next six months. Future sales will hinge on the Marine Corps' feedback, as they are currently testing several systems and will decide on a purchasing strategy within the fiscal year. Brose expressed hopes that Bolt could also compete for contracts with the Army.

The Organic Precision Fires contract reflects the US military's efforts to integrate small drones, which are transforming modern warfare. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has provided a testing ground for these drones, as they have been extensively used for both reconnaissance and direct strikes against artillery targets. American companies, including Anduril, have supplied drones to Ukraine and continue to learn from the military's experiences there.

Like many of Anduril's products, the Bolt drone features some autonomous capabilities. It operates using the company’s Lattice software, allowing troops to control the drone via a touchscreen interface to select targets, set engagement distances, and determine attack angles. This autonomy enables soldiers to multitask rather than continuously pilot the drones.

Instead of a fixed-wing design, the Bolt is a quadcopter that can take off and land vertically. According to Anduril, troops can set up and launch the drone in under five minutes. The Bolt can remain airborne for up to 40 minutes, with a range of approximately 12.5 miles.

It can carry a payload of up to three pounds and switch between warheads designed for personnel and equipment strikes, developed in collaboration with North Carolina's Kraken Kinetics.

Brose noted that the drone can target various domains, not just land, and can also address counter-maritime and counter-air threats.