Anduril unveils Roadrunner & Roadrunner-M

Malicious actors are increasingly using state-owned and commercially-available drone technology to threaten the personnel, infrastructure, and assets of the United States and our allies around the world. Anduril Industries has built a family of systems to counter such threats — and we’re thrilled to welcome the newest addition to that family: Roadrunner.

Roadrunner is a modular, twin-jet powered autonomous air vehicle with extraordinary performance at low cost. Vertical takeoff and landing capability gives Roadrunner the flexibility to rapidly launch from and safely return to any location, pairing high subsonic speed with exceptional agility and stability.

Roadrunner-M is a high-explosive interceptor variant of Roadrunner for ground-based air defense that can rapidly identify, intercept and destroy an array of aerial threats, including large aircraft that are up to 100 times more expensive, or be safely recovered and reused at near-zero cost.

Roadrunner and Roadrunner-Munition (Roadrunner-M) is an operationally-assessed and validated capability that is ready to deploy today.

[Brian-S]

Quite possibly the coolest tailsitter I ever seen. I envy the engineers who get to tinker with these things

[RileyGoss]

As a certified YouTube military expert, I can ascertain that this is cool as hell and I want one to play with.

[MittensTV]

I've been looking for a solution to these pesky jet-powered threats lately. This looks like it will work great!

[cane]

Its a cross between a SAM and Drone, with out the need for the large complex support systems that SAM site needs and easily deployable for battlefield use, most interesting and very useful. Plus, the real road runner at the end was epic!

[TGS_Space]

One of the coolest interceptors ever and the reusability is amazing almost looks like Falcon 9 landing!

[hilltop]

That was one of the sickest product unveiling videos I've ever seen.

[DreySantesson]

Aside from the great product, shout-out to the people who filmed and edited this video, stunning job !

[by]

Sustainable missile. Environmentally friendly, I approve.

[primenumberbuster]

That's one of the coolest payload I have seen.

[lamybenjamin]

That is really impressive weapon! Cool to look at and nice design. Landing capability is impressive!

[caspers_cousin]

I think it is cute that it returns home. I almost thought it was going to go back into the original case shown at the start of the video!

[J.Allen_]

As a career aero engineer for USAF, and drone expert, this was pretty impressive. Still have lots of questions regarding the supporting tech like tracking and radar, operating signature, deployment requirements etc.. but still very impressive with a short clip. Especially the RTB reuse function that is a significant capability. The engineering looks solid good job so far.

[ElectricIguana]

I love the cute little road runner bird at the end 🐦

[kevinwoodrobotics]

The tracking part of the software must be quite fun and challenging!

[willcall]

None of these drones would even be possible if it wasn’t for the Piezo gyro. Amazing technology.

[Helloverlord]

I like the fact these videos are made for army personel with limited congnitive abilities without claiming single performace figure (max flight duration before safe return, ceiling, top speed, radar signature, countermeasures immunity, all weather capabilities etc) - what seems important to the potential customer is it can fly and land, everything what every teenager (read the comments) was ever wanted from a vtol jet missile.

[lohikarhu]

I wondered, as it wasn't quite clear, if the M version actually deploys its warhead via proximity ranging, do that the base unit is not "expended" in all cases?
Someone mentioned that they thought it might be easy for an attacking force to "waste" many of these vehicles with many decoy devices, but, with live operators controlling them, it could reduce waste attacks... I'm also interested in the control systems vulnerability to EW blinding and spoofing... I've certainly had some ideas about reducing EW susceptibility...

[nofearnelson]

I hope they install a multi-mode warhead so it can engage ground targets as well, like tanks, IFVs, etc.

[joependleton]

Surprising everything in its path, making it a very likely strike force... worth its medal.

[xqrjgzb]

The last two years we have witnessed incredible change on the field of battle with drone warfare leading the charge of change. My guess is that we are only at the beginning of innovation of things to come. This cool toy I have to say I would rank in the high 90 percentile for innovation and adaptability. I am impressed as hell. This one concept I am sure will lead the way in yet another wave of like and similar vertol type high power drones with multiple capabilities. Give this one a huge WOW!!!
Mike