- Avalon Air Show 2025: A Pivotal Moment
The Avalon Air Show 2025 set the stage for a new chapter in autonomous combat aviation as Anduril Industries showcased a full-scale model of its Fury drone for the first time internationally. The move signals Anduril’s strong intent to compete in Australia’s growing market for collaborative combat aircraft, a domain where Boeing’s MQ-28 Ghost Bat has so far maintained dominance.
David Goodrich, CEO of Anduril Australia, confirmed that the company is participating in an evaluation process led by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). A decision on the selection of Fury is pending approval from the relevant authorities, with no specific timeline provided. Goodrich emphasized that any procurement of the Fury drone would require government approval, highlighting the complexities of defense acquisitions.
While Anduril is actively seeking opportunities in Australia, it is also eyeing expansion in the broader Indo-Pacific region. A recent partnership between Anduril, Singapore’s Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA), and the Republic of Singapore Air Force suggests that Singapore may also be interested in the advanced autonomous capabilities offered by Fury.
Fury is a Group 5 autonomous combat drone designed for operations in highly contested environments. It integrates Anduril’s Lattice software for mission autonomy, enabling it to work seamlessly alongside both manned and unmanned platforms. The drone’s modular architecture allows for rapid reconfiguration of sensors and payloads, making it versatile for a range of missions, including electronic warfare, surveillance, and precision strikes.
Equipped with a commercial jet engine, Fury offers a combination of fighter-like performance and extended endurance. It is capable of reaching speeds up to Mach 0.95 and sustaining accelerations of up to 9G, making it a formidable asset in high-maneuverability engagements. Designed with an open architecture, the drone supports third-party sensor and weapon integration, allowing it to adapt to evolving battlefield threats.
Fury has been developed using rapid prototyping and digital engineering, which facilitates accelerated production cycles. This approach enables Anduril to deliver a scalable solution for combat drone fleets at a significantly reduced cost compared to traditional platforms.
Goodrich indicated that Anduril would consider producing Fury in Australia if selected by Canberra. This prospect raises questions about the balance between supporting domestic industry and adopting foreign-developed technologies. The introduction of Fury could disrupt the current market landscape, challenging Boeing’s MQ-28 Ghost Bat, which has received substantial Australian government backing. Canberra has allocated 600 million AUD for ten Ghost Bat units and an additional 400 million AUD for three upgraded models.
Malcolm Davis, a defense expert at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), noted that Fury’s introduction could exert significant cost pressure on Boeing. Unlike the Ghost Bat, which has been developed specifically for Australian military requirements, Fury leverages commercial off-the-shelf technology, potentially offering a more cost-effective alternative.
Beyond Australia, Fury is also competing in the U.S. Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program. This initiative aims to develop autonomous drones to support next-generation fighter jets, addressing concerns over China’s numerical advantage in air combat. Fury is set for its first scheduled flight this year in the United States, where it will compete against a model proposed by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems.
Steve Parker, Boeing’s interim head of defense, space, and security, played down the challenge posed by Fury, emphasizing that the Ghost Bat has already completed over 100 test flights and is further along in its development. General Atomics, meanwhile, has taken a more measured stance. Company spokesperson C. Mark Brinkley stated that their primary focus is on expanding market opportunities in the Indo-Pacific rather than directly competing with the Ghost Bat. He also highlighted General Atomics’ robust production capacity, capable of delivering up to 200 aircraft per year without significant industrial expansion, a capability that Anduril currently lacks.
Anduril’s interest in Australia aligns with a long-standing trend of strategic defense cooperation between Canberra and Washington. For decades, Australia has sought to align its military capabilities with those of the United States, and the integration of autonomous drones could play a key role in this strategy. The U.S. has indicated that drones developed under the CCA program may be available for export through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) system, potentially facilitating an Australian acquisition of Fury.
Fury’s design prioritizes reusability and low maintenance costs, supporting a wide range of mission profiles, including air support and electronic warfare. In contrast, the Ghost Bat, introduced at Avalon in 2023, has primarily focused on surveillance and reconnaissance, with uncertainty surrounding its potential strike capabilities.
Anduril has not confirmed whether local production of Fury in Australia is a serious consideration. The company recently announced the opening of a large manufacturing facility in Ohio, where it plans to produce multiple systems, including Fury, the Roadrunner interceptor drone, and the Barracuda cruise missile family. The decision to manufacture Fury in Australia will largely depend on Canberra’s strategic priorities regarding combat drones and the trade-off between fostering domestic industrial growth and leveraging foreign-developed technology.
As competition among drone manufacturers intensifies, Australia may consider a hybrid approach—continuing its investment in the national Ghost Bat program while also evaluating alternative platforms such as Fury. This strategy could provide the RAAF with enhanced operational flexibility, leveraging multiple autonomous drone platforms to address different mission requirements.
Anduril’s presence at Avalon 2025 marks a significant step in its bid to establish itself as a key player in the autonomous combat aircraft market. As Australia weighs its options, the outcome of this evaluation process could have lasting implications for the country’s defense capabilities and industrial landscape. Whether Fury will gain traction in Australia remains to be seen, but its introduction has undoubtedly intensified the competition in the autonomous combat aircraft sector.
