Air system · Loitering Munition
Altius-700
Precision Strike / ISR / Electronic Warfare
Also known as: Altius 700 / Anduril loitering munition / ALTIUS canister drone
Altius-700 overview
The Altius-700 is a canister-launched loitering munition originally developed by Area-I and subsequently acquired by Anduril Industries as part of its expanding drone weapons portfolio. Unlike tube-launched systems like the Switchblade, the Altius-700 deploys via a pneumatic or pyrotechnic canister that can be mounted to aircraft wing stations, vehicle roof racks, or ground tripods — giving it exceptional launch platform flexibility. After ejection, it extends folded wings and deploys its electric motor, then navigates autonomously or under operator guidance to the target area where it can loiter before striking.
The Altius-700's modular payload bay is one of its most tactically significant features. The same airframe can carry a kinetic warhead for strike missions, an EO/IR sensor package for reconnaissance, or an electronic warfare payload for jamming or signals collection — and can be reconfigured between missions in the field. This flexibility allows small units to carry a mix of mission-configured Altius-700 rounds and select the appropriate payload based on emerging tactical requirements, rather than maintaining separate inventories of different drone types for each role.
Ukraine has been one of the most active operational users of the Altius-700, employing it in strike missions against Russian armored vehicles, logistics nodes, and command positions across the eastern front and in Crimea. Ukrainian forces adapted the system for launches from pickups, from aircraft, and from fixed ground positions near the line of contact. U.S. procurement has also expanded through 2025-2026, with Army Special Operations units among the primary customers. Anduril's continued software development through 2026 has improved the system's autonomous target recognition capability and its resilience to GPS jamming, directly informed by Ukrainian combat experience.
Armament
Modular: fragmentation warhead, shaped-charge anti-armor warhead, or ISR/EW payload
Development and operational timeline
- Area-I begins Altius-700 development under AFWERX and SOCOM funding
- Altius-700 first flight tests; canister launch and wing deployment validated
- SOCOM operational assessment; Altius-700 selected for special operations strike missions
- Anduril Industries acquires Area-I; Altius-700 integrated into Lattice AI ecosystem
- Altius-700 first combat use reported in Ukraine; supplied under U.S. security assistance
- EW payload variant deployed in Ukraine; Altius-700 conducts SIGINT collection missions alongside strike operations
- Anduril demonstrates GPS-denied autonomous guidance update informed by Ukrainian jamming environment experience
- U.S. Army Special Forces expand Altius-700 procurement; vehicle-launch configuration standardized
- Ukraine uses Altius-700 in long-range strike against Crimean logistics hub
- Anduril releases updated Altius-700M variant with improved seeker and expanded warhead options
- FY2026 U.S. defense budget includes expanded Altius-700 procurement for Army and Marine Corps
- Production ramp completed; Anduril delivering Altius-700 units to Ukraine and U.S. services simultaneously