Anduril unveils Thunder: Autonomous Attack Tilt-rotorcraft for the Near-Surface Fight

Anduril unveiled Thunder, a Group 5 autonomous attack rotorcraft designed to restore maneuver dominance in modern land warfare where drone proliferation has made near-surface combat extremely lethal for traditional helicopters.

• Key features: Tiltrotor design developed with Archer Aviation, combining VTOL capability with efficient wingborne cruise for runway-independent operations and global self-deployment
• Hybrid-electric powertrain with Optimum-Speed Tiltrotors for extended range, endurance, and reduced acoustic signature
• Heavy payload capacity: up to 10 missiles, 16 air-launched effects, or 76 rockets plus counter-UAS systems via modular internal bays
• Autonomous teaming: pairs with crewed platforms (e.g., 3 Thunders per Apache increases munitions 3x without risking additional pilots)
• Lattice autonomy software: enables formation flight, terrain-aware navigation, and real-time data fusion for collaborative operations in GPS-denied/degraded environments

First flight scheduled for 2027. Thunder represents a shift toward affordable mass production through dual-use commercial technology integration, addressing the challenge of contested logistics, long-range fires, and ubiquitous ISR threats that have rendered traditional attack aviation vulnerable.

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https://www.anduril.com/news/thunder