Anduril has landed a $2.9 billion Navy contract to build a submarine shipyard, according to CNBC. The facility will focus on the Virginia-class submarine program, marking a notable shift for a company best known for autonomous drones and craft into conventional shipbuilding.
An Anduril executive said the goal is to become a critical and growing part of the supply chain for the Navy's lead submarine builders, General Dynamics Electric Boat and Huntington Ingalls Industries. The company hopes to eventually produce very large sections of the vessels, an ambitious bet that could reshape how the Navy's industrial base operates.
The award comes days after Anduril's founder joined a Pentagon weapons advisory group, and it follows a broader trend of defense-tech companies gaining influence in Washington. Venture investors such as Marc Andreessen have also been appointed to Pentagon advisory boards, underscoring the tightening relationship between Silicon Valley and the military establishment.