The U.S.’s effort to ship missiles to Ukraine led to unforeseen missile stockpile shortages and prompted a surprise merger within the defense industry. Anduril, a defense-tech company, acquired Adranos, a manufacturer of solid rocket motors, to address the inadequate production of these crucial missile components, amid fears that supply chain issues could compromise national security.
Key Points:
- The U.S. encountered missile stockpile shortages following the decision to send missiles to Ukraine, which is becoming a concern for national security.
- Defense-tech company Anduril, created by Oculus founder Palmer Luckey, responded by acquiring Adranos, a Mississippi-based manufacturer of solid rocket motors.
- In the U.S., almost all manufacturing of solid rocket motors is currently controlled by two companies, Northrop Grumman and Aerojet Rocketdyne, which couldn’t meet the increasing demand.
- Adranos stood out to Anduril because of its innovative propellant development that boosts missile range and its potential for large-scale production with investment.
- While still far from becoming a main defense contractor, Anduril’s move into weaponry could pressure established companies in the sector to innovate. The company, valued at $8.5 billion, has previously focused on AI-enabled border surveillance technologies.
Source: https://www.axios.com/2023/06/28/anduril-makes-major-move-into-missiles
