Anduril shows the ALTIUS-600M kamikaze drone in action for the first time

Anduril Industries has demonstrated the ALITUS-600M kamikaze drone in action for the first time. It is based on the ALTIUS-600 unmanned aerial vehicle.

Here's What We Know

Anduril has bought out Area-I, a drone developer. The formal unveiling of the kamikaze drone took place in the autumn of 2022. According to Anduril, the drone can operate without an operator. Artificial intelligence is used for targeting.

A video shows the ALITUS-600M striking a target directly at a firing range. After a precise hit an enormous fireball is formed. What kind of munition the kamikaze drone is equipped with, the company did not specify. But we do know that the 9-12kg drone can carry up to 3kg payload.

There is also no information on which platform the ALITUS-600M was launched from. The video, though, shows examples of a barrage munition launch from an MRZR all-terrain vehicle, a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter and a ground-based launcher.

Judging from the video, ALITUS-600M kamikaze drones can operate as part of a swarm. Such a feature was announced at a presentation last year. Moreover, the US Army tested four waves of seven UAVs each as part of a 2022 exercise that operated as part of a swarm. It is the largest such exercise in history.

A new video shows the joint operation of the bomber with the US Army's AH-64 Apache. The ALITUS-600M helps the helicopters deal with enemy air defence systems.

As we noted at the beginning, the ALTIUS-600M is based on the ALTIUS-600 drone. The latter is used for reconnaissance. It weighs 12.25 kg, can reach speeds up to 60 km/h and has a range of 440 km. On 24 February 2023, ALTIUS-600 drones were included in the US military assistance package for Ukraine.

Source: Anduril Industries