Anduril drones crash in U.S. Air Force tests and Ukraine combat
Anduril Industries' Altius drones crashed during Air Force tests at Eglin Air Force Base in November 2025, with one nosediving 8,000 feet and another spiraling to earth. The company's Ghost drone program also experienced failures in Ukraine, revealing a gap between Anduril's claims of battlefield readiness and the actual performance of its systems.
What happened
Two Altius drones made by Anduril Industries crashed during Air Force tests at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida in November 2025. One drone nosedived 8,000 feet into the ground and a second spiraled to earth during a separate test, according to an Air Force test summary.
Anduril's Ghost drone program also experienced setbacks including failures in Ukraine, according to interviews with more than a dozen people including former Anduril staff, military officials, and people working with drones on the Ukrainian battlefield.
Reported impact
The crashes highlight a gap between Anduril's claims that its drones are battle-ready and their actual performance in testing and combat. Mykhailo Fedorov, deputy prime minister of Ukraine, stated in November 2024 that of one million drones deployed to the front lines that year, 96% were Ukrainian-made, suggesting limited impact from Western drone makers including Anduril.
Classification
Sources and evidence
Sources not yet published
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