Anduril eyes major Israeli defense deals, expanding partnership talks during CEO's visit

Innovative US military technology firm Anduril Industries is making its initial foray into Israel, with a senior delegation led by CEO Brian Schimpf visiting the country this week. Schimpf, who cofounded Anduril with Palmer Luckey, aims to promote deals for the company's products, particularly its command and control systems, to Israel's Ministry of Defense.

According to an Israeli official familiar with the company's operations, Anduril's primary interest is securing substantial sales in Israel, with a commitment to hiring local personnel in return for large orders. Unlike a previous visit by Luckey, which involved meetings with political figures and startups, this delegation's host is the Defense Ministry's Defense Research and Development Directorate (MAFAT), headed by Danny Gold.

During their visit, Schimpf and his team plan to interview several retired Israeli generals, including former Air Force Commander Amikam Norkin and former Planning Directorate chief Amir Abulafia. The objective is to appoint a permanent Israeli representative to manage ongoing contact with the Ministry of Defense. The delegation will also engage with senior executives at prominent Israeli defense firms like Rafael and Elbit.

Anduril and Elbit recently announced a collaboration to offer the US Army the Sigma 155 howitzer system, combining Elbit's precision capabilities with Anduril's command and control and AI processing. This joint system is a contender in a US Army tender to replace older artillery systems. During the current visit, Anduril and Elbit will discuss expanding this collaboration, while Anduril will also pursue opportunities with other defense companies and directly with the Ministry of Defense, aiming to offer joint products to the IDF supported by MAFAT.