Anduril Roadrunner is the world's first reusable unmanned interceptor that can land like SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket

Anduril has unveiled the world's first (relatively) reusable unmanned interceptor. It has been named Roadrunner.

Here's What We Know

The Roadrunner is used to intercept cruise missiles, aircraft, barrage munitions and unmanned aerial vehicles. It is equipped with two jet engines and is capable of performing a vertical landing in the style of the first stages of SpaceX's Falcon 9 launch vehicles.

The Roadrunner can be reused if no target was destroyed during the sortie. In that case, the interceptor drone returns to the operator. By the way, a fragmentation-fugitive warhead is used to destroy the aerial threat.

A pair of compact jet engines provide takeoff, landing and acceleration of the unmanned interceptor drone. Anduril does not specify the Roadrunner's speed, but notes that it does not exceed the speed of sound (343 m/s).

A specially designed launcher, called Nest, is provided for launch. The entire system can be integrated into an air defence system. There is no information about the guidance system.

As for the price, it is also not specified, but the head of Anduril said that we are talking about several hundred thousand dollars. And here the question arises as to the cost-effectiveness of such a solution.

Source: Breaking Ddefense