US defense technology company Anduril Industries announced it has acquired Georgia-based Area-I, a company that specializes in tube-launched unmanned aerial systems (UAS).
Anduril said the takeover was aimed at expanding its portfolio of unmanned aerial systems, and creating new opportunities for its software-defined capabilities such as mission autonomy and intelligent teaming.
Area-I is most famous for air-launched, tube-stored UAS, such as its “agile-launched, tactically-integrated, unmanned system” (ALTIUS) platform.
“This is a great strategic fit for our companies,” said Anduril co-founder and CEO Brian Schimpf. “By adding ALTIUS to our suite of products including our Lattice software platform, we are increasing Anduril’s value to our defense customers. Together with Area-I’s proven expertise, we will rapidly advance our shared mission of modernizing the defense capabilities of the US and our allies with transformative technology.”
Founded in 2009, Area-I will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Anduril and will continue to operate under the Area-I brand.
“By joining Anduril, Area-I will now have an infusion of capital that will provide additional access to critical resources and significantly increase IRAD investment, which will serve to maintain our competitive edge in the market,” said Area-I founder and CEO Dr. Nicholas Alley. “The new capital will enable us to further accelerate our innovations and continue to set the standard by which other tube-launched UAS are measured.”
In August 2020, Area-I was one of three companies awarded US Army contracts for development of air-launched effects for the service’s Future Vertical Lift program.
