Anduril has unveiled its new family of Bolt vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) autonomous aircraft, offering simple and flexible solutions for a wide range of missions. According to the company’s website, the base Bolt configuration is designed for reconnaissance and search-and-rescue operations. The Bolt-M variant is weaponized and can serve as a fire support asset for ground forces. This drone utilizes onboard software to automate flight and can accurately track and engage targets. The operator retains control over key decisions such as where to look, what to follow, how to fire, and when to strike.
“Modern conflicts have demonstrated how lightweight, portable tactical munitions can provide an asymmetric advantage to dispersed forces by leveraging readily available commercial drone technology to reduce costs and increase production capacity,” Anduril states. “Effective first-person view drones require highly skilled pilots to successfully search for and engage targets, creating a need for specialized training. Today’s ground forces need a large supply of low-cost, lightweight, portable, and reliable munitions that can deliver high performance without requiring specialized operators.”
This is exactly what the Bolt-M can provide. The drone is easy to operate, with a portable body and quick deployment capabilities. It offers autonomous waypoint navigation, object tracking, customizable engagement distances, and firing modes. Its battery lasts up to 40 minutes of flight with a range of up to 20 kilometers. The payload, weighing up to three pounds, can be used against static or moving ground targets, including light vehicles, infantry, trenches, and more.
The Bolt-M operates on the tactical version of Anduril’s Lattice software platform, equipped with advanced AI/ML capabilities for automating flight, target search, tracking, and engagement of dynamic targets. With its autonomous waypoint navigation, which can be adjusted via an intuitive touchscreen interface, Bolt-M allows operators to focus on mission objectives rather than basic navigation tasks.
The Bolt-M is designed to provide the flexibility needed to adapt to battlefield conditions, offering agnostic object tracking. This means the operator can draw a bounding box around any visual target, and the drone will follow it. Once the target is identified, the operator can instruct the drone on the optimal position to take. When it’s time to strike, the operator can set the angle of attack, while the onboard vision and guidance algorithms ensure precision even if the connection with the operator is lost.
The Bolt family of systems is built for safety, reliability, and ease of use, allowing soldiers to focus on their mission. The Bolt-M’s detachable ground control station is optimized for user convenience, combining training and simulation capabilities, weapons system integration, mission planning, and execution. The drone is also compatible with various warheads from both Anduril and third-party manufacturers.
Thanks to its physical and software-based safety features, operators can safely and securely disarm the payload for transport, return to base, or redeployment. The lightweight and compact form factor of the devices allows them to be easily added to existing gear. If needed, the Bolt-M can be unpacked and launched in under five minutes, as it requires no specialized launching equipment. Additionally, it is equipped with a camera that allows the operator to switch between standard and infrared modes.
Source: anduril
