Anduril shared the images of its jet-powered Roadrunner-M anti-air loitering munitions with VTOL capability rolled out from the serial production line.

The firm showed the serial production of loitering munitions intended against slow-flying aircraft following the unveiling in 2023. The customer is unknown but the U.S. Army is highly likely due to Anduril’s ramp-up of contracts with the U.S. military in projects such as CCA and the development of a new rocket motor for artillery rockets.

Roadrunner-M differs from tube-launched single-use loitering munitions by being launched off the “Nest” container/launcher and providing the option of recovery by vertical landing on deployable legs.

Having an overall form highly reminiscent of a fighter jet with delta wings and two turbojet engines, Roadrunner-M features high speed and manoeuvrability to engage slow-flying aircraft.

A similar development is the smaller Coyote Block 2 from Raytheon which was tested from different platforms. Unlike Roadrunner-M, Coyote Block 2 has a form closer to that of a missile for multiple carriage. The guidance system is also different from Coyote Block 2 using an active radar seeker instead of an optical one like Roadrunner-M.

Anduril’s YFQ-44A UCAV, a Contender in USAF’s CCA Programme

Anduril’s other major project involving UAVs is the YFQ-44A prototype UCAV as a contender in the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) programme, aiming for loyal wingmen to start introducing the MUM-T capabilities to the USAF operationally.

YFQ-44A is being developed for aggressive flight to keep up with fighter jets with external stores to hold up to two AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles and a nose section to house either one radar, IRST, or jammer.

Author: Kaan Azman

Editor: Özgür Ekşi