Anduril Roadrunner-M

The Roadrunner-M (Munitions variant) is an autonomous reusable vertical-takeoff-and-landing interceptor drone developed by Anduril Industries, designed specifically to defeat cruise missiles, drone swarms, helicopters, and low-altitude fixed-wing threats at a fraction of the cost of conventional surface-to-air missiles. Unlike traditional interceptors fired from fixed launchers, the Roadrunner-M is a recoverable turbojet-powered aircraft that can launch, loiter, engage a target, and — if no target is found — return and land vertically for reuse. This 'attritable interceptor' model breaks the current cost asymmetry where defenders spend $1–3M Patriot PAC-2 interceptors to destroy $20,000 drones.

Anduril's Lattice AI command and control system ties multiple Roadrunner-M units into an autonomous air defense network, with on-board compute making engagement decisions in milliseconds without requiring operator approval for each shot. The Roadrunner-M has been selected for the US military's Counter-UAS programs and demonstrated publicly in 2023. Its architecture — AI-autonomous engagement, reusable airframe, distributed deployment from small ground teams — represents a paradigm shift from Cold War air defense doctrine. Anduril has also developed the non-explosive Roadrunner variant for airborne surveillance and a collaborative over-watch mission.