Anduril CEO Leads Delegation to Israel to Expand Defense Tech Partnerships
The American defense technology company Anduril, founded by industry prodigy Palmer Luckey, is making initial moves into the Israeli market. This week, a delegation of senior executives from the unicorn company will visit Israel, led by CEO and co-founder Brian Schimpf. Their mission is to advance sales of Anduril’s products to the Israeli defense establishment, focusing particularly on command and control systems. A senior Israeli source familiar with Anduril’s activities noted that the company aims to secure large orders and plans to recruit local talent in exchange.
This visit follows Palmer Luckey’s earlier trip this year, which was organized by the Prime Minister’s Office and included meetings with political leaders and startups. This time, the delegation is hosted by the Ministry of Defense’s Research and Development Directorate (Mafat), headed by Danny Gold. During their stay, Schimpf and his team will interview at least three retired generals, including former Air Force Commander Amikam Norkin and former Planning Directorate head Amir Abulafia, to appoint a permanent Israeli representative to manage ongoing relations with the defense system.
The delegation will also meet senior executives from Israeli defense companies such as Rafael and Elbit Systems. A key meeting is scheduled with Elbit’s CEO Bezalel Makhlis and senior management, as well as with Defense Minister Amir Baram. Earlier this month, Elbit and Anduril announced a collaboration to offer the U.S. military the "Sigma 155" artillery system, known in Israel as "Ro'em." This long-range cannon mounted on an Oshkosh combat truck integrates Elbit’s firing and precision capabilities with Anduril’s command, control, AI processing, and autonomy, aiming to shorten target acquisition to firing time and improve counter-fire evasion. The joint system is a leading contender in a U.S. competition to replace the aging M-109 howitzer.
Beyond finalizing the U.S. deal, Anduril seeks to introduce joint products to the Israel Defense Forces with Mafat’s support. Israel is a strategic market for Anduril after previous efforts in Ukraine and major contracts in the U.S. The company also aims to demonstrate operational feasibility amid criticism of battlefield setbacks, such as the failed deployment of its "Ghost" drone in Ukraine. Partnering with Israeli defense firms ensures its technology reaches skilled operators and provides credibility.
Anduril, founded in 2017 and named after Aragorn’s sword from "The Lord of the Rings," specializes in AI-based autonomous battlefield systems including attack and surveillance drones, cruise missiles, unmanned vessels, and electronic warfare tools. It has secured $6 billion in orders and raised $12 billion at a $61 billion valuation, backed by venture capital firms like Peter Thiel’s Founders Fund and Joshua Kushner’s Thrive Capital. Palmer Luckey, who sold Oculus VR to Facebook for $2 billion at age 21, is known for his unconventional style and influence in Silicon Valley and U.S. defense circles.
The company’s "Lattice" command and control platform, based on AI, integrates sensors, weapons, and autonomous systems and is expected to compete with Israeli solutions like Kaleidoscope, Ondes, and Elbit’s "Tzid." Additionally, Anduril hopes to leverage Israeli defense companies as a bridge to European markets, where Elbit recently won a $1.4 billion modernization contract for an undisclosed client. This visit marks a significant step in Anduril’s global expansion and its efforts to embed its cutting-edge technology within Israel’s defense ecosystem.
