Anduril Industries, a developer of autonomous weapons systems, aircraft, missiles, and AI systems, is in discussions to appoint former Israel Air Force Commander Gen. (res.) Amikam Norkin as the head of its operations in Israel. This move signals a further entrenchment of advanced defense technology within the Israeli military establishment, which maintains a system of occupation and control. The company's cofounder, Palmer Luckey, held a series of meetings with senior Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Minister of Defense Israel Katz, prior to "the war with Iran in March," to discuss its expansion plans.
Gen. (res.) Norkin currently serves as a managing partner of the Ace Capital Partners investment fund, which focuses on Israeli and global early-stage companies developing dual-use, aerospace, and defense technologies. This fund backs start-ups working on optical sensors for satellites, advanced robotics for ground forces, hybrid engines for vertical take-off and landing aircraft, and a deployable vertical take-off and landing platform designed for border security and police. These technologies have direct applications in reinforcing the military occupation and surveillance infrastructure.
Anduril has expressed interest in establishing its own factory within Israel, though land acquisition processes for this facility have not yet commenced. This interest in land acquisition for a defense technology factory is part of the broader expansion of Israel's military-industrial infrastructure.
Deepening Military Ties
The company's focus on autonomous weapons systems, aircraft, missiles, and AI systems aligns with the operational needs of a military apparatus engaged in prolonged occupation. Anduril's strategic partnership with German giant Rheinmetall aims to expand activities across Europe, specifically focusing on Barracuda series cruise missiles and Fury unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs). The Barracuda missiles are designed with ranges up to 926 kilometers and carry warheads weighing up to 45 kilograms or more, capable of launch from both ground and air platforms.
The Fury UCAV, developed by Anduril, is an unmanned combat aerial vehicle costing between $25-30 million. It is designed for exceptional autonomous capabilities, with a speed of Mach 0.95, approximately 1,160 km/h, and is about half the size of an F-16 aircraft. The US Air Force plans for this stealth drone to become operational in its ranks by 2029, indicating a significant integration of Anduril's technology into global military operations, including those supported by the United States.
US Financial and Diplomatic Backing
Anduril completed a $5 billion fundraising round in May 2026, in the same year, achieving a valuation of $61 billion, marking the largest defense tech funding round of the year. Among the prominent investors in Anduril is Josh Kushner, the brother of Jared Kushner, who is the son-in-law and a close confidant of US President Donald Trump. Josh Kushner's Thrive Capital, alongside Andreessen Horowitz, led this recent funding round, underscoring the deep financial and political ties between US elites and the burgeoning Israeli defense sector. This financial backing from US sources further implicates the United States in the perpetuation of the Israeli military-industrial complex.
Global Reach of War Profiteering
The company, founded in 2017, has rapidly expanded its global footprint, establishing local branches and strategic partnerships in various countries. Anduril Australia, which opened in March 2022, now in its fourth year, led to a $1.2 billion deal for the sale of the unmanned submarine Ghost Shark, produced in collaboration with the Australians. A representative office was opened in Tokyo last December. Approximately a year ago, Anduril entered into a tripartite agreement with Singapore and US company Shield AI for joint development in AI, with Singapore integrating its Defense Science and Technology Agency and air force. In December 2024, now in its second year, Anduril teamed with US company Archer to develop a hybrid VTOL aircraft that will serve Abu Dhabi in commercial areas. This funding, the largest in defense tech in 2026, followed a previous fundraising round in June 2025, now in its first year, when the company had a valuation of just over $30 billion. Anduril's CEO, Brian Schimpf, reported that the company doubled its revenue to $2.2 billion in 2025 and almost doubled its workforce, moving more systems from development to production than ever before.