Orbital Corporation awarded $3 million development contract with Anduril

Drone engine maker Orbital Corporation has announced the signing of a development contract with defence technology company Anduril Industries.

In a short ASX announcement on Thursday morning, Perth-based Orbital said an initial contract worth approximately $3 million would lead to prototypes delivered for ground testing by January next year.

The two companies had announced an MoU in May 2022 to work on concepts, products and technology solutions, including delivery of a test engine.

CEO Todd Adler said at the time that it represented “an opportunity to demonstrate our superior heavy fuel engine capability but support’s Orbital UAV to take the first steps toward building a long-term partnership to support Anduril’s growing portfolio of hardware and software products.” 

On Thursday, Orbital said: “Subject to the Company delivering against the January 2024 deadline, and the technical requirements for the first prototype engines, Anduril and Orbital UAV will engage in further contract negotiations to take the prototype engines into flight and production ready propulsion systems.”

Anduril was established in 2017 by technology entrepreneur Palmer Luckey, who had previously founded virtual reality company Oculus. 

It currently has a contract to develop three prototype extra large autonomous undersea vehicles (XL-AUV) to the Royal Australian Navy.

Picture: Altius drone (credit Anduril)

Further reading

EXCELLENCE IN MARITIME MANUFACTURING – ANDURIL’S EXTRA LARGE AUTONOMOUS UNDERSEA VEHICLES

ORBITAL TO DELIVER DRONE TEST ENGINE TO ANDURIL

ORBITAL TO PLAN UPGRADE FOR ANDURIL DRONE ENGINE