Anduril Shows Altius 600M in Action for the First Time in Ukraine

Anduril Industries has released the first public photo of the Altius 600M drone in night combat use.

Although the US company did not name the country, it is known that Ukraine is the only operator that has ordered these drones and is using them in combat.

“Altius-600M has been launched on a night combat mission to destroy enemy equipment,” the company said in a statement.

Back in March, the United Kingdom ordered Altius 600M and Altius 700M multi-purpose drones for Ukraine. They can be used for both reconnaissance and strike missions.

Several contracts worth a total of 30 million pounds have been signed for the supply of Altius unmanned systems.

The company’s British subsidiary, Anduril UK, was to deliver the drones, as well as launchers and spare parts, to Ukraine within a few months. 

Ukraine has been using Altius 600 drones in the war against Russia since 2023, when they were ordered by the US government as part of international military assistance.

The Altius 600M has a modular design and is capable of carrying up to 3 kilograms of payload: from combat units (for use as a kamikaze drone) to powerful optoelectronic stations and electronic warfare equipment.

The aircraft is about one meter long and weighs approximately 12 kilograms. 

It can be launched from various platforms due to its placement in a pneumatically-launched transport and launch container. After being ejected from the installation, the 2.54-meter wings automatically deploy, after which the engine with a two-blade propeller in the tail section turns on.

The drone can be controlled by an operator from a ground station or operate autonomously along a programmed route. The flight duration is up to 4 hours and the range is up to 440 km.

Altius 700M is a heavier version of the previous version. The combat unit alone weighs 15 kilograms. This drone is positioned as a strike vehicle for hitting targets at long range. According to Anduril Industries, the Altius-700M has a range of 160 km and a barrage time of 75 minutes.