The defense-tech startup led by Palmer Luckey is reportedly raising billions as investors double down on military AI and autonomous systems.
Anduril Seeks Massive Valuation Jump
Defense technology startup Anduril Industries is reportedly pursuing a new funding round that could value the company at $60 billion, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal.
The round is expected to be led by Thrive Capital and Andreessen Horowitz, two major venture firms with deep investments in emerging technologies.
- Lux Capital and Founders Fund are also expected to participate
- The funding could bring billions in fresh capital into the company
If successful, the raise would mark a dramatic valuation leap for the defense-tech firm.
A Sharp Rise From Last Year’s Funding
The new round would come less than a year after Anduril’s Series G funding.
That round closed in June 2025, bringing in $2.5 billion at a $30 billion valuation.
- Current target valuation: $60 billion
- Previous valuation (2025): $30 billion
- Previous raise: $2.5 billion
A separate report from Bloomberg previously suggested the company could secure up to $8 billion in the new round.
If confirmed, it would rank among the largest private funding rounds in defense technology history.
A Complicated Moment for Defense AI
The fundraising effort comes during a tense moment for AI companies working with the U.S. government.
A recent contract dispute between Anthropic and the Pentagon triggered a major policy response.
- The U.S. government is canceling contracts with Anthropic
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has threatened to label the company a supply-chain risk
The move reflects growing scrutiny over which AI companies the U.S. military should rely on.
Palmer Luckey Backs the Government’s Position
Palmer Luckey, Anduril’s founder and CEO, has publicly supported the government’s stance in the dispute.
In a recent post on X, Luckey argued that critical national power should remain in the hands of democratic institutions rather than private actors.
“At the end of the day, you have to believe that our imperfect constitutional republic is still good enough to run a country without outsourcing the real levers of power to billionaires and corpos and their shadow advisors.”
While he did not explicitly support labeling Anthropic a supply-chain risk, his comments aligned with the broader government position.
Defense Tech Is Becoming Silicon Valley’s Next Frontier
Anduril’s rise reflects a larger shift across Silicon Valley venture capital.
After years of hesitancy, investors are increasingly backing defense startups building AI-driven systems, surveillance platforms, and autonomous military hardware.
Anduril has positioned itself as one of the sector’s leaders.
The company develops AI-powered defense technologies, including autonomous surveillance systems and battlefield software designed to modernize military operations.
For investors, the appeal is straightforward: defense spending remains massive, stable, and increasingly reliant on software and AI innovation.
TL;DR
Anduril is reportedly raising a new funding round that could value the defense-tech startup at $60 billion, doubling its valuation from last year. The round is expected to be led by Thrive Capital and Andreessen Horowitz and may bring in up to $8 billion, as defense AI becomes a major focus for Silicon Valley investors.
