Autonomous attack helicopter Thunder: Anduril unveils an uncrewed tiltrotor wingman at Farnborough

Thunder is a Group 5 autonomous attack helicopter unveiled by US defence company Anduril Industries at the Farnborough International Airshow 2026. The uncrewed tiltrotor aircraft is intended to operate alongside crewed attack and transport helicopters in future, significantly increasing their striking power and survivability.

The company justifies the development with the profound transformation of modern battlefields. Because first-person view (FPV) drones, loitering munitions and low-cost air defence systems are becoming increasingly widespread, conventional attack helicopters in particular have become considerably more vulnerable, it says. Dangerous missions are therefore to be taken over by autonomous systems in future, so that crews can stay away from the most threatened areas.

Payload: up to ten Hellfire missiles

It is based on a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) platform that Anduril developed together with Archer Aviation. Thunder thus combines vertical take-off and landing with the range of a tiltrotor aircraft. A hybrid-electric propulsion system and variable-speed rotors are intended to optimise range, efficiency and acoustic signature. It can be redeployed either under its own power over long distances or in a standard container.

The armament offers great flexibility. Depending on the mission, it can carry, among other loads, ten Hellfire, JAGM or Barracuda-100M guided missiles, 16 Altius-600 guided drones or 76 unguided 70-millimetre rockets; electronic warfare systems, counter-unmanned aircraft systems (counter-UAS) effectors or supplies are also possible.

Autonomous attack helicopter as a wingman for the Apache

At the heart of the concept is its role as an autonomous wingman alongside crewed helicopters. A single attack helicopter is to be accompanied by several Thunder systems that multiply its firepower. As an example, Anduril cites three Thunder drones with one AH-64 Apache: this would triple the available armament of a Combat Aviation Brigade without exposing additional pilots to the dangers of combat.

Thunder is controlled by Lattice, the manufacturer's mission software. It autonomously coordinates formation flight, obstacle avoidance and navigation as well as interaction with crewed aircraft. Advanced sensors, artificial intelligence and onboard data processing are intended to keep the system operational even when GPS reception is jammed or communications are restricted.

The first flight is planned for 2027. Anduril's aim is a new approach to the combat use of autonomous aircraft; above all, it seeks to strengthen the role of crewed attack helicopters in conflicts that are increasingly dominated by drones.