Defense technology firm Anduril unveiled plans on July 20, 2026, in London to build an autonomous attack tiltrotor called Thunder.
The hybrid-electric aircraft is designed to pair with U. S.
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Army helicopters to expand combat capabilities.
Developed with California-based Archer Aviation, the Group 5-sized vertical-takeoff-and-landing aircraft fits inside a standard shipping container for transport.
Developers expect the maiden flight next year.
Anduril projects that pairing multiple uncrewed tiltrotors with existing aircraft could significantly increase firepower during combat.
Teaming three Thunder aircraft with each Apache could triple available munitions without risking additional pilots, the company said.
The announcement follows the U. S.
Air Force's decision in June to move forward with Anduril's drone wingman prototype.
Chris Brose, Anduril's president and chief strategy officer, said the Thunder would cost a fraction of a Cheyenne or Apache.
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Brose noted that while the system is designed to be recovered, its low cost makes it affordable to lose.
He added that the Pentagon and Army have never been more open to new ideas and collaborations.
The global debut at the Farnborough air show aimed to attract international partners. Brose said the company looks forward to discussing the system with the U.
K. , European partners, and the U.
S. Army.
The aircraft can carry heavy payloads: up to 10 air-to-ground missiles, 16 launched effects, 76 70mm rockets, and 12 counter-UAS effectors in its nose cone.
Chris Arnott, senior vice president of maneuver dominance, said development has been underway for two to three years.
He estimated rate production in the 2030-2029 timeframe, depending on demand.
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The concept enters an emerging market where competitors like Boeing have unveiled similar tiltrotor drone concepts.
