Rheinmetall, Anduril to develop advanced anti-drone system for Europe

Rheinmetall, based in Germany, and Anduril Industries from the United States have agreed to jointly develop and manufacture a sophisticated counter-unmanned aerial system (c-UAS) tailored for European markets.

The partnership, announced at a defense expo in Paris, will integrate Rheinmetall’s Skymaster and Anduril’s Lattice command and control systems with Anduril’s Sentry surveillance tower, Wisp sensors, and Anvil kinetic interceptor, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

The Skymaster system enables both centralized and decentralized battle management, offering automated weapon assignment and engagement recommendations based on threat assessments, along with manual and automatic control through a single console.

Meanwhile, Anduril’s Lattice software, known for its adaptability, is currently utilized by US Special Operations Command and US Customs and Border Patrol for various missions. This collaboration aims to deliver a comprehensive c-UAS solution featuring modular hardware and high-powered weaponry, aimed at enhancing European defense capabilities against evolving drone threats.

Anduril emphasizes that the partnership with Rheinmetall will provide a systematic approach integrating a diverse mix of sensors and effectors, supporting both hard-kill and non-lethal capabilities, as well as active and passive detection applications.

Greg Kausner, Anduril’s Global Defence SVP, highlighted the critical need for flexible and rapidly deployable air defense systems amidst accelerating technological advancements in warfare. Rheinmetall and Anduril’s previous collaboration on the US Army’s Optionally-Manned Fighting Vehicle program underscores their capability to deliver innovative defense solutions, positioning them as contenders in major defense procurement projects.