Anduril Altius

Altius (Agile Launched, Tactically-Integrated Unmanned System)^[1] is a series of fixed-wing, tube-launched unmanned aerial vehicles developed by Area-I, an Atlanta-based subsidiary of Anduril Industries acquired in April 2021. Altius 600 accepts a modular payload on the nose. It can be launched from different launchers and platforms, including C-130 aircraft, UH-60 Blackhawks, and various ground vehicles, as well as larger UAVs, including the MQ-1C Grey Eagle and Kratos XQ-58 Valkyrie stealth UCAV.

An Anduril/Area-I ALTIUS-600 Tube-Launched Unmanned Aerial System in flight

Deployment

The Altius is a component of the U.S. Army's Air-Launched Effects (ALE). Swarms can operate in a mesh network.^[2][3] The Altius is designed to be low-cost and expendable, but can be recovered mid-flight with Flying Air Recovery System (FLARES).^[4] The loitering munition version of Altius has a range of 280 miles (450 km) and four hours flying time.^[5]

In 2022 NOAA conducts the first successful launch of the Altius-600 into a hurricane, Hurricane Ian, which records winds up to 216 miles per hour (348 km/h).^[6]

Operators

• Republic of China Army^[7][8]
• United States Army
• United States Air Force^[9]
• Ukraine^[10]