US arms firm Anduril could make interceptors in Europe, executive says – Defense News

US arms firm Anduril could make interceptors in Europe, executive says  Defense News

U.S. defense firm Anduril could eventually manufacture its newly unveiled Steelfin interceptor missiles in Europe, a company executive said. U.S. defense firm Anduril could eventually manufacture its newly unveiled Steelfin interceptor missiles in Europe, a company executive said this week, as governments aim to expand air defense production after global conflicts highlighted shortages of interceptor missiles. “I certainly hope that something like Steelfin could become a capability that we engage with both the Polish customer and industry,” Brian Moran, Anduril’s vice president for Europe, told Reuters on Monday. “We would definitely consider engaging European partners and customers on this capability.” Steelfin is due to undergo flight testing in 2027, according to Anduril.

Wars in Ukraine and the Gulf have strained stocks of air defense interceptor missiles and caused delivery delays. Moran said Anduril saw Steelfin as a complementary system that could provide a more affordable interceptor alongside existing missile defense systems like the Patriot and others. The company is already in talks to establish production in Poland of its Barracuda-500 cruise missile, and Moran said that experience could open the door to additional manufacturing projects. “We’re having a very good experience with our industry partner here, PGZ,” he said, adding that discussions were also under way with the defense ministry and other government agencies. PGZ is Poland’s state-owned arms group.