Counter drone innovation: Anduril and OpenAI join forces

Anduril and OpenAI are partnering to advance American counter drone technology by leveraging OpenAI’s artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities and training them on Anduril’s library of data on drone threats and operations. It will also be combined with Anduril’s existing systems like the Lattice software platform, according to a 4th December press release. The partnership aims to improve the detection, assessment, and response rates to detected drones. 

“Our partnership with Anduril will help ensure OpenAI technology protects U.S. military personnel, and will help the national security community understand and responsibly use this technology to keep our citizens safe and free,” Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI said. The partnership has been phrased in the context of a global competition between the US and China in which AI is seen as a critical technology to gain ground in. 

Anduril has developed a range of counter drone products that network detection products known as Long-Range Sentry Towers, which combine sensors in the radio frequency and electro-optical range to detect targets as well as the Pulsar electronic warfare system to defeat threats. It can be networked using the company’s Lattice command and control system and already employs some elements of AI to improve target resolution and targeting. Multi-modal detection is seen as key for small drones – it may be possible to detect them using a spectrum analyser, but this will not necessarily reveal the type of drone. If combined with electro-optical sensors and radar, it is possible to kinetically intercept a drone and destroy it, or jam its control links as appropriate.

Calibre comment

The counter-drone topic is gaining incredible importance across defence, with solutions being developed to protect armoured vehicles and infantry, using both destructive systems and jamming. The use of AI to detect and understand drones is likely to increase as it can rapidly understand what type of threats are present and how best to respond to them. This is what the Anduril-OpenAI partnership aims to do, according to the press release. 

By Sam Cranny-Evans, published on 5th December 2024.