Anduril Industries is proposing two distinct autonomous aircraft configurations to operate alongside Poland's planned F-35 Lightning II fighters and AH-64E Apache helicopters, according to company statements released this week. The firm's Fury unmanned aerial system would pair with the F-35s in air superiority and strike missions, while a modified version of its Bolt-M drone is being positioned as an autonomous scout and targeting asset for the Apaches. Both offerings build on Anduril's existing Lattice AI operating system, which the company has deployed in separate programs with the U.S. military and allied nations.
Poland's Ministry of National Defence has committed to acquiring 32 F-35A aircraft under a $4.6 billion foreign military sales package announced in 2020, with deliveries scheduled to begin in late 2027. The Apache procurement, finalized in 2022, covers 96 AH-64E Guardian helicopters at a cost exceeding $12 billion, with initial deliveries slated for early 2028. Warsaw views both programs as centerpieces of a broader military overhaul driven by security concerns following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The addition of autonomous systems would give Polish forces extended reach and sensor coverage without proportionally increasing pilot workload or training pipelines, a capability gap that defense planners have identified as critical given the country's geographic position on NATO's eastern flank.
Fury, Anduril's jet-powered unmanned platform, has logged more than 200 flight hours in U.S. Air Force developmental testing since its first flight in 2024. The aircraft features a modular payload bay capable of carrying air-to-air missiles, electronic warfare pods, or intelligence-gathering sensors depending on mission requirements. In the Polish application, Anduril envisions Fury operating 20 to 50 nautical miles ahead of manned F-35s, using its onboard AI to identify threats, jam enemy radars, or engage targets under pilot supervision transmitted via Link 16 datalink. The Bolt-M variant proposed for Apache integration differs significantly in form factor. Originally developed as a quadcopter for perimeter surveillance, the militarized Bolt-M incorporates thermal imaging, laser designation, and mesh networking to relay targeting data directly to Apache weapon systems. Anduril claims the platform can autonomously track moving vehicles and dismounted personnel, then cue helicopter crews for engagement without requiring manual camera operation. The system weighs under 15 kilograms and can be deployed from an Apache's cabin, giving aircrews organic reconnaissance in contested airspace where larger drones face higher attrition risk.
Anduril's push into Poland follows its selection in 2025 to supply counter-drone systems for the country's critical infrastructure protection program, a contract valued at approximately $200 million over three years. That earlier deal involved stationary radar and interceptor installations rather than mobile autonomous platforms, but it established Anduril's presence within Poland's defense procurement ecosystem and familiarized military officials with the Lattice software architecture. The company is also competing for similar loyal wingman programs in Australia, where the Royal Australian Air Force is evaluating the MQ-28 Ghost Bat developed by Boeing Australia, and in the United Kingdom, where the Tempest fighter program includes provisions for autonomous adjuncts. Industry analysts note that Anduril's willingness to tailor distinct platforms for different mission sets—rather than proposing a single generic drone—reflects lessons learned from U.S. combatant command exercises, where rigid autonomy concepts have struggled to match the versatility of crewed aircraft. Poland has not publicly disclosed a timeline for selecting autonomous systems to complement its F-35 and Apache fleets, nor has it confirmed budget allocation for such capabilities. However, defense ministry officials have repeatedly emphasized the importance of fielding manned and unmanned teaming by the end of the decade, a timeframe that would require contract awards within the next 18 months to allow for integration testing and pilot training ahead of operational deployments.
What to Watch: Monitor Poland's defense budget submissions for fiscal 2027-2028, which should reveal funding lines for autonomous aircraft if procurement moves forward. Track whether competing firms such as Kratos Defense, which manufactures the XQ-58 Valkyrie, or Turkey's Baykar submit rival proposals for the F-35 wingman role. Watch for public demonstrations of Fury or Bolt-M operating with Polish military units, as live exercises typically precede formal contract announcements in European defense markets.
