KIELCE, Poland — Partnership Between Anduril Industries and PGZ
In a significant development within the defense sector, Anduril Industries, a U.S.-based defense technology firm, has joined forces with PGZ, a major Polish state-owned defense enterprise, for the local production and assembly of the Barracuda-500M surface-launched cruise missile. This collaboration is currently under review, with discussions ongoing with the Polish Ministry of National Defence. Moreover, Anduril is actively promoting its Fury autonomous combat aircraft and Thunder autonomous attack rotorcraft to Poland, potentially making it the first European country to deploy these technologies.
Brian Moran, Anduril’s Vice President for Europe, shared insights with Defense News at the MSPO defense exhibition in Kielce, Poland. He emphasized that alongside progressing the Barracuda project with PGZ, the company is proposing the integration of two autonomous aircraft into Poland’s future air fleets, which will include Lockheed Martin’s F-35 fighter jets and Boeing’s AH-64E Apache attack helicopters.
“One of the key initiatives at Anduril is the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program, where our Fury model was selected as a program of record by the United States Air Force,” Moran explained. “With the introduction of F-35s to Poland, the Fury is ideally suited to operate alongside the F-35 as a loyal wingman, enhancing force capabilities and safeguarding our troops.”
Alongside the procurement of 32 F-35 jets, the first of which was delivered to Poland in May of the previous year, Poland is also preparing for the arrival of 96 Apache helicopters. With this upcoming enhancement to its military assets, Anduril is holding discussions with Polish authorities regarding the potential acquisition of the Thunder drone, which was recently unveiled at the Farnborough Airshow in July.
“In July, we introduced Thunder, an autonomous collaborative platform designed to complement the Apache attack helicopter,” Moran stated. “Similar to how Fury operates with the F-35, the acquisition of Thunder will significantly amplify Poland’s capabilities, particularly as the country prepares to train numerous pilots for the 96 Apaches.”
The delivery of these 96 helicopters, along with associated equipment and armaments, is slated to commence in 2028. Once these helicopters are deployed, Poland is expected to become the second-largest operator of Apaches globally, trailing only the United States.
Last year, the Polish Ministry of Defence inked a $300 million agreement to lease eight AH-64D Apaches from the United States, in preparation for the planned deliveries.
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Jamal Peterson reports on defense, aerospace, and tech policy. With a military background and a strategic mind, he dissects complex subjects with clarity, offering readers sharp, reliable insights.
