Anduril's product engineering machine(joincolossus.com)
joincolossus.com
Anduril's product engineering machine
https://joincolossus.com/article/the-amusement-park-for-engineers/
159 comments
What’s the latest about Anduril’s work environment? They’ve been pushing vibes-heavy approaches to recruiting like making videos sneering at remote work and highlighting how quirky Palmer is, but the last I heard it wasn’t a great place to work. When I start seeing PR puff piece journalism about a workplace to make it seem extra fun, they’re usually compensating for something (low pay, long hours, bad work environment) in my experience.
It’s important to know that Andruil is culturally very similar to Palantir and is run by many ex-Palantir folk.
My experience with the latter is very outdated but assuming Andruil is at a similar phase of growth as Palantir was a decade ago, you pretty much nailed it
Someone correct me if I’m wrong:
Underpaid compensation, with a justification that they are only hiring people who are “mission driven”. Heavily military based culture with a “need to know” approach to projects and overreliance on acronyms to align thought. Perks are golden age startup perks with full meal service, massages, fitness classes, laundry because of you are looking for a 9-5 then this is not the job for you
My experience with the latter is very outdated but assuming Andruil is at a similar phase of growth as Palantir was a decade ago, you pretty much nailed it
Someone correct me if I’m wrong:
Underpaid compensation, with a justification that they are only hiring people who are “mission driven”. Heavily military based culture with a “need to know” approach to projects and overreliance on acronyms to align thought. Perks are golden age startup perks with full meal service, massages, fitness classes, laundry because of you are looking for a 9-5 then this is not the job for you
Compensation is essentially top-of-industry, maybe with the exception of the Big 3 AI companies (that’s assuming you believe their RSU valuations, and that an IPO will occur).
Some projects are OPSEC-restricted, yes.
No massages, classes, laundry.
Many 9-5 people.
Some projects are OPSEC-restricted, yes.
No massages, classes, laundry.
Many 9-5 people.
> Compensation is essentially top-of-industry
For junior candidates yes. Anyone with 5+ years of good experience, no, it's about half of what you'd make at Google.
For junior candidates yes. Anyone with 5+ years of good experience, no, it's about half of what you'd make at Google.
For those in the defense industry, Anduril pays pretty well.
I don't doubt it.
Still about half of what a senior role in big tech would amount to.
This is an interesting trend for a bunch of newer companies, pay competitively for junior roles but significantly below industry for experienced candidates.
Still about half of what a senior role in big tech would amount to.
This is an interesting trend for a bunch of newer companies, pay competitively for junior roles but significantly below industry for experienced candidates.
Classic cult recruitment tactic. Lure people in, hook them, then trap them.
Your claim is that they don't practice at-will employment?
Obviously not? The bigger issue is trusting them not to lord your RSUs over you.
Are you familiar with the term "cult"?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cult
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cult
Sure. Do you have a real argument, or are you just aligned with siblings compliant: "this company sucks: when you stop working for them, they stop paying you"
That's not what the parent said.
You’re talking Google L5? Anduril L5 is similar YOE. I’m seeing ~400k TC for L5 at Google in levels.fyi, Anduril is significantly higher.
If you're using levels.fyi as a reference, Anduril pays its L5s significantly less, not more:
https://www.levels.fyi/companies/anduril-industries/salaries...
No, when I say 5 years I mean something like a PhD + five years in a relevant job. That would be maybe L6 at Google unless you're coasting.
> Compensation is essentially top-of-industry, maybe with the exception of the Big 3 AI companies (that’s assuming you believe their RSU valuations, and that an IPO will occur).
I guess it comes down to betting on the IPO then?
The two recent data points I have are from one person who interviewed, got an offer, and his only reaction was “lol, not a chance”. The other person I know who works there now (according to LinkedIn) was a coworker who was cut for underperformance when we worked together years ago. I’ve heard so many different stories about what it’s like that I don’t know what to believe any more.
Calling Anduril comp “significantly higher” than Google does go completely against what I’ve heard from others though. I’ll have to go look again.
EDIT: The levels.fyi data looks great for juniors but definitely isn’t higher than Google for L5+: https://www.levels.fyi/companies/anduril-industries/salaries...
I guess it comes down to betting on the IPO then?
The two recent data points I have are from one person who interviewed, got an offer, and his only reaction was “lol, not a chance”. The other person I know who works there now (according to LinkedIn) was a coworker who was cut for underperformance when we worked together years ago. I’ve heard so many different stories about what it’s like that I don’t know what to believe any more.
Calling Anduril comp “significantly higher” than Google does go completely against what I’ve heard from others though. I’ll have to go look again.
EDIT: The levels.fyi data looks great for juniors but definitely isn’t higher than Google for L5+: https://www.levels.fyi/companies/anduril-industries/salaries...
Anduril is a decent base with a huge gamble on equity, Google is a sure shot.
People that started a year ago at Anduril are today making slightly more than they would be had they stared at Google. People that started 2 years ago are making far more than they would be. And it keeps growing – exponentially – from there.
People that started a year ago at Anduril are today making slightly more than they would be had they stared at Google. People that started 2 years ago are making far more than they would be. And it keeps growing – exponentially – from there.
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Exponential growth in salary? Wow!
Not realistic…….
Not realistic…….
2x every year for the past 8+ years. Realistic? Maybe not. Historic? Absolutely.
Sounds like when I worked for a defence contractor in the 90s. Felt owned from the moment I woke up until I fell asleep. Didn’t feel human.
Just woke up one day and thought fuck it and never went back in. Took 6 months off, went on holiday, slept on my parents sofa and eventually got a shit job wrangling C. Best job ever that was. Better money, unlimited decent coffee, 9-5 hours, a window, a phone on my desk and my own SPARCstation 20.
Just woke up one day and thought fuck it and never went back in. Took 6 months off, went on holiday, slept on my parents sofa and eventually got a shit job wrangling C. Best job ever that was. Better money, unlimited decent coffee, 9-5 hours, a window, a phone on my desk and my own SPARCstation 20.
Dunno what you consider underpaid, I doubt anyone outside of FAANG software people would consider $400k/year underpaid. I'm sure for people like analog/digital design engineers, mechanical engineers, CNC machinists (who you all need to build stuff like this), a salary like this is a windfall.
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Comp is 2-3x any other defense company.
Mission driven is very important.
Significant former military representation.
Anything DOD related is going to have need to know baked in due to DOD requirements. I’m not sure what your issue is with acronyms, they’re used a lot everywhere in defense. They’re not magic incantations, merely shorthand.
Meals yes, the rest of that no, it’s definitely not Google.
There are plenty of 9 to 5 jobs, and plenty that aren’t. Depends on what role you’re filling.
Mission driven is very important.
Significant former military representation.
Anything DOD related is going to have need to know baked in due to DOD requirements. I’m not sure what your issue is with acronyms, they’re used a lot everywhere in defense. They’re not magic incantations, merely shorthand.
Meals yes, the rest of that no, it’s definitely not Google.
There are plenty of 9 to 5 jobs, and plenty that aren’t. Depends on what role you’re filling.
Sounds insufferable, which is unsurprising since Parmer Lucky is the final boss of wannabe airsoft warriors who never served.
I’m sure it’s appealing to the Grunt Style vets and sweaty Call of Duty cosplayers they’re scooping up to build weapon systems.
I’m sure it’s appealing to the Grunt Style vets and sweaty Call of Duty cosplayers they’re scooping up to build weapon systems.
This is a ridiculous set of assertions that is utterly without foundation.
Maybe if you don't know who Palmer Luckey is? We're talking about the dude who founded Oculus not to outfit the F-35, but because he was obsessed with Sword Art Online.
He's more macross than missile, a flamboyance you can ascertain from Hawaiian shirts or the smell of microwaved pizza rolls. If you put him in a life-or-death situation, he'd simply pray to be reincarnated as a Gainax employee. Luckey is an SBF-tier grifter who I don't trust with my taxpayer dollars and especially distrust with the lives of my family members serving under America's flag. I pray for another "last supper" in Congress by the time this admin is gone.
He's more macross than missile, a flamboyance you can ascertain from Hawaiian shirts or the smell of microwaved pizza rolls. If you put him in a life-or-death situation, he'd simply pray to be reincarnated as a Gainax employee. Luckey is an SBF-tier grifter who I don't trust with my taxpayer dollars and especially distrust with the lives of my family members serving under America's flag. I pray for another "last supper" in Congress by the time this admin is gone.
I am a 20+ year military veteran with multiple deployments. I don’t need to parade my “family members serving under America’s flag” for internet karma.
Anduril’s technology is saving lives right now all over the world.
Anduril’s technology is saving lives right now all over the world.
Would you like to draw on your vast field experience to refute anything in my comment? Palmer Luckey spent more than a decade cultivating his down-to-earth weaboo persona, if that was all a lie then you need to tell us! It's a matter of national security, nowadays.
Though, just judging from the comment you left, you seem more upset with Anduril's reputation than any of what I said. Or your own karma, one of the two.
Though, just judging from the comment you left, you seem more upset with Anduril's reputation than any of what I said. Or your own karma, one of the two.
Why would I need to refute patently obvious made up bullshit.
Because Palmer Luckey does in-fact wear Hawaiian shirts? Which part did I make-up?
Live in your fantasy world.
Can you at least tell other commenters what your issue is? Don't focus on OP.
My first comment in this whole chain was crystal clear.
Prove me wrong. Anduril saving lives means nothing; terrorists and rapists can save lives, they're still terrorists and rapists though. Criminal lifesaving isn't justice.
If your tenure as GI has shown you anything else, then prove me wrong and forever preserve Luckey's honor. I only ever knew him as the guy who gooned to Asuka porn and collected floral clothing. He was really keen on making sure I knew him for that, but how did you know him?
If your tenure as GI has shown you anything else, then prove me wrong and forever preserve Luckey's honor. I only ever knew him as the guy who gooned to Asuka porn and collected floral clothing. He was really keen on making sure I knew him for that, but how did you know him?
Apparently Palmer Luckey doesn't have an official executive role at Anduril? He's listed as founder. Does he work there day to day?
https://www.anduril.com/leadership/
https://www.anduril.com/leadership/
I don't think this is too uncommon. The last two startups I worked for had a founder who wasn't on the org chart but was very much involved.
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Watch a USMC recruiting video.[1] Same concept.
[1] https://www.youtube.com/@marinecorps/videos
[1] https://www.youtube.com/@marinecorps/videos
> making videos sneering at remote work
> highlighting how quirky Palmer is
Ironically neither of those things sound "fun" to me. They sound fun for Palmer, who can stroll around his office feeding his narcissistic fantasies but not for anyone else.
> highlighting how quirky Palmer is
Ironically neither of those things sound "fun" to me. They sound fun for Palmer, who can stroll around his office feeding his narcissistic fantasies but not for anyone else.
I think Anduril's mission is great but I'd never work for a man who directly funded fascism in my own country. Would be cool if there was a more woke defense contractor that wasn't captured by institutional rot like Raytheon and Lockheed
I can draw only 2 conclusions from this story:
- Anduril is overstating the effectiveness of their cheap and cheerful elbow grease solutions, and for example, you can't replicate the functionality of a Mach-whatever interceptor like the Patriot to shoot down a cruise missile with a cheap and slow drone that just tries to 'stand in its path'
- Anduril is replicating the cambrian explosion of combat systems (drones, jammers, whatnot), we've seen in the Russian/Ukraine war. These are made out of largely commercial components, or stuff that can be built in any well-equipped machine shops and commercially available components, and a country of .
Both can be true at the same time, but especially the latter should be concerning to the defense industries and militaries of the world. It means, that if systems build out of commercial components for hundreds to tens of thousands of dollars can either replicate or counter a large chunk of million to billion dollar systems, then that means that, huge parts of the defense expenditure conferred no advantage. Considering we saw columns of both Russian and Western tanks blown up, each worth millions, this I'm confident is true.
The other thing is that this means the US has lost its technological edge when fighting even third-tier militaries who decide to procure and manufacture these system. I'm sure after the war, the expertise to build these will be readily available on the market, and the components (both used by Anduril and these smalls shops) are nothing special.
- Anduril is overstating the effectiveness of their cheap and cheerful elbow grease solutions, and for example, you can't replicate the functionality of a Mach-whatever interceptor like the Patriot to shoot down a cruise missile with a cheap and slow drone that just tries to 'stand in its path'
- Anduril is replicating the cambrian explosion of combat systems (drones, jammers, whatnot), we've seen in the Russian/Ukraine war. These are made out of largely commercial components, or stuff that can be built in any well-equipped machine shops and commercially available components, and a country of .
Both can be true at the same time, but especially the latter should be concerning to the defense industries and militaries of the world. It means, that if systems build out of commercial components for hundreds to tens of thousands of dollars can either replicate or counter a large chunk of million to billion dollar systems, then that means that, huge parts of the defense expenditure conferred no advantage. Considering we saw columns of both Russian and Western tanks blown up, each worth millions, this I'm confident is true.
The other thing is that this means the US has lost its technological edge when fighting even third-tier militaries who decide to procure and manufacture these system. I'm sure after the war, the expertise to build these will be readily available on the market, and the components (both used by Anduril and these smalls shops) are nothing special.
> you can't replicate the functionality of a Mach-whatever interceptor like the Patriot to shoot down a cruise missile with a cheap and slow drone that just tries to 'stand in its path'
But they weren't trying to shoot down cruise missiles. They were shooting down drones.
But they weren't trying to shoot down cruise missiles. They were shooting down drones.
From the article:
Consider the challenge of defending vast territories against cruise missiles. Conventional systems, like Patriot PAC-3 and NASAMS batteries, typically cost millions of dollars per installation. So we asked ourselves a simple question: What if we could create a forcefield of low-cost drones to intercept cruise missiles worth millions?
The concept seemed absurd at first, even to our team—the overmatch appeared too extreme. But we stripped the problem again to its fundamentals. Cruise missiles are fast, but they follow predictable flight paths. If we could accurately determine that flight path using two ground-based IR passive sensors (what we called Wide-Area Infrared System for Persistent Surveillance, or WISPs), we wouldn’t need expensive targeting systems on the interceptor itself.
We modified our Anvil drone to carry no sensors at all—the drone would simply position itself in the projected path of the incoming missile, aligning with where the missile would pierce our virtual “force field.” Despite the initial skepticism, we demonstrated the concept successfully, destroying a target that could fly an order of magnitude faster than our interceptor.
Consider the challenge of defending vast territories against cruise missiles. Conventional systems, like Patriot PAC-3 and NASAMS batteries, typically cost millions of dollars per installation. So we asked ourselves a simple question: What if we could create a forcefield of low-cost drones to intercept cruise missiles worth millions?
The concept seemed absurd at first, even to our team—the overmatch appeared too extreme. But we stripped the problem again to its fundamentals. Cruise missiles are fast, but they follow predictable flight paths. If we could accurately determine that flight path using two ground-based IR passive sensors (what we called Wide-Area Infrared System for Persistent Surveillance, or WISPs), we wouldn’t need expensive targeting systems on the interceptor itself.
We modified our Anvil drone to carry no sensors at all—the drone would simply position itself in the projected path of the incoming missile, aligning with where the missile would pierce our virtual “force field.” Despite the initial skepticism, we demonstrated the concept successfully, destroying a target that could fly an order of magnitude faster than our interceptor.
With all due respect, those who monitor the war in Ukraine will tell you that Anduril is overengineered and expensive. New Russian drones, produced in the thousands every day, are kits, assembled in minutes on the battlefield. Nothing fancy, crappy looks, nothing exciting, but it works and it's cheap and it manufacturing can be ramped up in no time. Not to mention that Russian innovate on the battlefield, everybody tries different modifications, and what works is communicated back. Also, commercially, there are tens and tens of private and government companies working on drones in Russia - one company can't do better than many in a competitive environment. So, unless there are 10-20 Andurils competing on speed of innovation, costs, materials, simplicity, and manufacturing speed, this is no match.
Why are you comparing Anduril against Russia's drones? Shouldn't you use Ukraine, surely it has access to higher tech than Russia and is just as battletested?
Or does Russia use Chinese tech?
Or does Russia use Chinese tech?
Russia has the strategic depth to mass manufacture specialty drones in a way that Ukraine cannot. Even though Ukraine used fiber optic drones first, the Russians were the first to produce them in large numbers and it took Ukraine months to catch up. Lancet/Shahed drones are even bigger examples of this.
Shahed where originally designed and manufactured by Iran. Russians initially bought and licensed them. And I assume are now improving upon the original design.
Russian is top down innovation with a thick layer of corruption. No matter how much you want to claim strategic depth, they are always several steps behind Ukrainians. No matter how many advantages due to size they have.
Sorry you picked the wrong team.
Russian is top down innovation with a thick layer of corruption. No matter how much you want to claim strategic depth, they are always several steps behind Ukrainians. No matter how many advantages due to size they have.
Sorry you picked the wrong team.
> Shahed where originally designed and manufactured by Iran.
I'm talking about mass manufacturing, not design. Russia has had capability to hit any Ukrainian factory since Day 1 of the war, that's why they've successfully dispersed and hidden their production so much. Also, I've always been pro-Ukraine.
>they are always several steps behind Ukrainians.
That's not true anymore, both sides have plateaued because all innovations are quickly copied. Anti-recon quadcopters were another Ukrainian innovation that took the Russians roughly 6 months to catch up to. The only advantage they have is size and strategic depth. There isn't much else.
I'm talking about mass manufacturing, not design. Russia has had capability to hit any Ukrainian factory since Day 1 of the war, that's why they've successfully dispersed and hidden their production so much. Also, I've always been pro-Ukraine.
>they are always several steps behind Ukrainians.
That's not true anymore, both sides have plateaued because all innovations are quickly copied. Anti-recon quadcopters were another Ukrainian innovation that took the Russians roughly 6 months to catch up to. The only advantage they have is size and strategic depth. There isn't much else.
Shahed evolved into Geran, then Geran 2, and now Geran 3 with jet engine, recently confirmed in use in Ukraine by Kyiv. So, Russia is innovating at a high pace. I'm concerned that America cannot innovate so quickly and cost-efficiently. Everything needs to go through tons of red tape, hourly rates are crazy, and the end product is extremely expensive and hard to maintain and evolve. Anduril to me is not America's answer. America needs on the battlefield innovation and means to share feedback in real-time. We're behind! That's my concern.
"Amusement Park" has to be one of the worst headline choices here. So these people are amused by building killing machines? They are amused that their work is directly related to death & destruction? They are monsters if so.
I actually thought it was an excellent title! But then I read the article and realized there was no irony in it.
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I hoped someone had hijacked that name for an actual "amusement park for engineers", coincidentally hitting all the right key words, but in terms of trademark protections occupying a completely unrelated commercial domain. Would be really, really funny if Anduril (not the amusement park) sales and marketing folks would have to append "not the amusement park", when speaking about Anduril (not the amusement park).
What's the acceptable state of mood that you are allow to be in when building killing machines?
It is a very interesting article, but I'm a little horrified at the amount of effort going into military projects to kill more efficiently.
Yeah you might want to take a look at what's happening in Europe then. Because your options are "have an effective conventional military force, ideally enough to deter an invasion" and "have nuclear weapons and threaten Armageddon at the smallest of provocations" (which was correctly identified as impractical during the Cold War: would the US trade the Eastern Seaboard to protect Berlin? Fairly obviously no...)
Humans never learn, there will always be some crazy moron controlling some country.
Oh Man; You need to shake off your naivete asap!
Our entire Social/Economic/Psychological value system has been completely remade to value only Money and Power. Humanity/Ethics/Morals/Community/Individuals are only useful in so far as they sustain the system in pursuit of the above objectives else they are all just a hindrance and must be manipulated/overlooked/removed.
Our very mastery of Science and its consequent Technology has enabled the exercise of all "our" (i.e. Individuals/Groups/Corporations/Governments/etc.) powers in service of Money/Power to a degree unimaginable before the Scientific Revolution. Nothing matters but only the sustaining of "The System" which has taken a life of its own independent of the Humans (and other life forms) who inhabit it.
To explain using pop-culture references, you are mere disposable "Soylent Green" in "The Matrix" all of which are embedded in omniscient "The System".
References:
1) Notes on Nationalism by George Orwell - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notes_on_Nationalism
2) Brainwashing: The Science of Thought Control by Kathleen Taylor - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brainwashing:_The_Science_of_T...
3) Reflexive Control - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reflexive_control
4) Propaganda: The Formation of Men's Attitudes by Jacques Ellul - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propaganda:_The_Formation_of_M...
5) The Technological Society by Jacques Ellul - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Technological_Society
Our entire Social/Economic/Psychological value system has been completely remade to value only Money and Power. Humanity/Ethics/Morals/Community/Individuals are only useful in so far as they sustain the system in pursuit of the above objectives else they are all just a hindrance and must be manipulated/overlooked/removed.
Our very mastery of Science and its consequent Technology has enabled the exercise of all "our" (i.e. Individuals/Groups/Corporations/Governments/etc.) powers in service of Money/Power to a degree unimaginable before the Scientific Revolution. Nothing matters but only the sustaining of "The System" which has taken a life of its own independent of the Humans (and other life forms) who inhabit it.
To explain using pop-culture references, you are mere disposable "Soylent Green" in "The Matrix" all of which are embedded in omniscient "The System".
References:
1) Notes on Nationalism by George Orwell - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notes_on_Nationalism
2) Brainwashing: The Science of Thought Control by Kathleen Taylor - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brainwashing:_The_Science_of_T...
3) Reflexive Control - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reflexive_control
4) Propaganda: The Formation of Men's Attitudes by Jacques Ellul - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propaganda:_The_Formation_of_M...
5) The Technological Society by Jacques Ellul - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Technological_Society
Tell that to russia
Ironic that everyone talking shit about "building killing machines" probably also has Ukraine flags next to their PFPs. How you think Ukraine fighting their war right now fam - with sticks and bottle rockets?
I work in the defense industry. I have a personal philosophy that I will never work on a platform that could be used to directly or even indirectly harm an individual person (like a fighter jet radar system). So far I've been able to stick to it. While I do think offensive weapons are a necessary part of life in these times, I don't want any of my work going towards building them. Of course some of the profit I help my company make likely goes towards developing new offensive weapons, my taxes will always fund my government's purchase and use of these weapons no matter who I work for.
But if you are working on enablers (comms, logistics, sensors, trainers, etc, etc) you are still supporting the overall kill chain.
A luxurious position bred of first world arrogance.
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There's perhaps another war going on right now that's a bit less popular, and a lot more profitable, that these guys are making bank on. I hope you sleep well knowing you support this team
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Some people really sincerely do believe in pacifism. That doesn't seem misaligned with 'the victim of an immoral war should win'.
One can also believe multiple things at the same time, like:
* Waging war is immoral
* If someone wages war on you, it's acceptable to defend yourself instead of allow them to kill you
* Enabling war for personal profit (by selling weapons) is immoral
* Making weapons for self-defense is acceptable
i.e. during WW2, many countries repurposed existing industry in order to build all the weapons that were needed to win the war. That's a very different thing from spinning up a new startup with the stated goal of making weapons to sell for money. You can personally think it's okay but it seems totally reasonable to me that someone would believe "weapons should not be manufactured for personal profit the way we manufacture toys or food".
One can also believe multiple things at the same time, like:
* Waging war is immoral
* If someone wages war on you, it's acceptable to defend yourself instead of allow them to kill you
* Enabling war for personal profit (by selling weapons) is immoral
* Making weapons for self-defense is acceptable
i.e. during WW2, many countries repurposed existing industry in order to build all the weapons that were needed to win the war. That's a very different thing from spinning up a new startup with the stated goal of making weapons to sell for money. You can personally think it's okay but it seems totally reasonable to me that someone would believe "weapons should not be manufactured for personal profit the way we manufacture toys or food".
Cool. How should they be manufactured? You know. For the self defense in the immoral war you mention.
Try reading the last bit
So you want a bombed out shell of a country to repurpose a destroyed industrial base and ramp up manufacturing for a technology it has no history of producing. Very logical.
To some extent Ukraine has also given people are very distorted impression of what a modern war in other contexts would look like, adding an unhelpful data point to the other outdated one which is WW2.
WW2 was probably the last time you could fight a war, and do things like convert your local industry to produce weapons and tanks that were relevant. And even then, it only really happened because the US mainland was not contested territory during the conflict - it had the luxury of choosing when to enter the war.
Ukraine is simply not a "normal" looking modern conventional war. Both sides have receiving significant external imports which are various reasons are mostly untouchable by kinetic strikes till they cross the relevant borders (in this way it is much more like Vietnam in logistical respects). So you see assumptions like "mass production of drones will be key to the future!" in a context where the bulk of the critical components - microprocessors, cameras etc. - are not produced in the countries in conflict, and are imported from factories which are in no danger of ever being directly targeted.
So cheap mass producable systems have held the line in areas, but they're obviously drop ins for something you'd prefer to use instead - i.e. artillery - but there's a shortage of that. But conversely they haven't moved the line in a lot of areas - some of the biggest strikes of the war have been from conventional exploitation of defensive failures - i.e. the Kharkiv breakthrough, or from espionage operations which might be notable for using a lot of drones but the real accomplishment was getting them in position and the real success was still very typical: Operation Spidersweb taking out a large number of Russian long range strategic bombers.
Now people will point to the latter and say "see! strategic bombers are useless!" ... and yet that can hardly be true if a substantial operation to destroy strategic bombers was worth doing. A system being vulnerable in a way it previously wasn't does not make it ineffective (i.e. if strategic bombers at airfields intact would endanger the Ukranian position, then they're still an obviously necessary system, but they now need better protection then they had - or Russian counter-espionage just sucks).
WW2 was probably the last time you could fight a war, and do things like convert your local industry to produce weapons and tanks that were relevant. And even then, it only really happened because the US mainland was not contested territory during the conflict - it had the luxury of choosing when to enter the war.
Ukraine is simply not a "normal" looking modern conventional war. Both sides have receiving significant external imports which are various reasons are mostly untouchable by kinetic strikes till they cross the relevant borders (in this way it is much more like Vietnam in logistical respects). So you see assumptions like "mass production of drones will be key to the future!" in a context where the bulk of the critical components - microprocessors, cameras etc. - are not produced in the countries in conflict, and are imported from factories which are in no danger of ever being directly targeted.
So cheap mass producable systems have held the line in areas, but they're obviously drop ins for something you'd prefer to use instead - i.e. artillery - but there's a shortage of that. But conversely they haven't moved the line in a lot of areas - some of the biggest strikes of the war have been from conventional exploitation of defensive failures - i.e. the Kharkiv breakthrough, or from espionage operations which might be notable for using a lot of drones but the real accomplishment was getting them in position and the real success was still very typical: Operation Spidersweb taking out a large number of Russian long range strategic bombers.
Now people will point to the latter and say "see! strategic bombers are useless!" ... and yet that can hardly be true if a substantial operation to destroy strategic bombers was worth doing. A system being vulnerable in a way it previously wasn't does not make it ineffective (i.e. if strategic bombers at airfields intact would endanger the Ukranian position, then they're still an obviously necessary system, but they now need better protection then they had - or Russian counter-espionage just sucks).
No. Those talking about "building killing machines" support russia because it fights agains imerialism or other stupid shit like that
This company was founded by a MAGA psycho in the neo-fascist Thiel circle, and you can be sure that their technology will be used domestically as soon as it’s politically viable.
You know, America had to coerce Ukraine into disarmament in 1994 because they had too many killing machines. You'd be surprised how quickly national defense becomes a touchy subject, on both sides of the aisle.
America has, for decades, has been trying to bilk Ukraine into forgoing free Soviet surplus to buy NATO-standardized equipment, only to remotely disable their material while they're using it. Because America was so fickle in providing defense, we've guaranteed that all future peace treaties (eg. one in Ukraine) necessitates direct American intervention, and not vague "security" agreements. That's probably why Trump is brooding over his options right now instead of arranging a ceasefire - he can't get peace without trading away something absurd like US naval assets or direct satellite intel.
America has, for decades, has been trying to bilk Ukraine into forgoing free Soviet surplus to buy NATO-standardized equipment, only to remotely disable their material while they're using it. Because America was so fickle in providing defense, we've guaranteed that all future peace treaties (eg. one in Ukraine) necessitates direct American intervention, and not vague "security" agreements. That's probably why Trump is brooding over his options right now instead of arranging a ceasefire - he can't get peace without trading away something absurd like US naval assets or direct satellite intel.
Okay. Russia drone go boom in Ukraine. Ukraine have no drone. How get drone.
I just explained it to you and you ignored my comment. Here is a simplification if it helps:
1991-1994: They nuke Moscow.
1994-present day: American strategic deterrence takes over.
If any part of that is unclear to you then I urge that you reread the Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances and return to the discussion with the rest of the context.
Anduril does not manufacture strategic deterrents. If you think they're the solution to the Budapest Memorandum then you're the sort of armchair YouTube General that the Army filters out in officer school. It's not hard to understand, anyone can Google the difference between strategy and tactics.
1991-1994: They nuke Moscow.
1994-present day: American strategic deterrence takes over.
If any part of that is unclear to you then I urge that you reread the Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances and return to the discussion with the rest of the context.
Anduril does not manufacture strategic deterrents. If you think they're the solution to the Budapest Memorandum then you're the sort of armchair YouTube General that the Army filters out in officer school. It's not hard to understand, anyone can Google the difference between strategy and tactics.
Ukraine keeping the nukes was never going to happen. The US, EU, and Russia were all in agreement on that. Ukraine was in shambles at the time, and no one wanted the risk of nukes getting transferred or sold outside of the existing nuclear club.
Ukraine had physical possession of the nukes, but their ability to actually use them was highly suspect. They might have been able to circumvent the security measures given enough time, but if anything such an attempt would have sparked an international "peacekeeping operation" to make sure the nukes didn't fall into the wrong hands.
https://cisac.fsi.stanford.edu/news/budapest-memorandum-myth...
Ukraine had physical possession of the nukes, but their ability to actually use them was highly suspect. They might have been able to circumvent the security measures given enough time, but if anything such an attempt would have sparked an international "peacekeeping operation" to make sure the nukes didn't fall into the wrong hands.
https://cisac.fsi.stanford.edu/news/budapest-memorandum-myth...
Well, for all the wanting of nonproliferation it didn't stop Pakistan or India. I never saw any peacekeeping operations from China or Russia when either of them went nuclear.
If Ukraine had the physics package, why couldn't they deploy it? Barring launch codes from the Kremlin, there's still enriched uranium in the warhead that you can turn into a simpler one-stage bomb. I doubt they could have gone thermonuclear, but simply leveraging the ICBMs and fissile material seems well within Ukraine's wheelhouse.
If Ukraine had the physics package, why couldn't they deploy it? Barring launch codes from the Kremlin, there's still enriched uranium in the warhead that you can turn into a simpler one-stage bomb. I doubt they could have gone thermonuclear, but simply leveraging the ICBMs and fissile material seems well within Ukraine's wheelhouse.
Excellent. So following your own logic Anduril - and similar - are a necessity to provide hardware for said deterrence. Glad we sorted that out.
Edit: oh I see, you only support strategic deterrence which equates to “standby until we have to nuke them.”
Edit: oh I see, you only support strategic deterrence which equates to “standby until we have to nuke them.”
Ukraine fights off aggressor.
Ukraine doesnt use Anduril drones, maybe with the exception of some PR contracts.
Anduril seems to be all about killing brown people forcing themselves over the border to "eat the cats".
Ukraine doesnt use Anduril drones, maybe with the exception of some PR contracts.
Anduril seems to be all about killing brown people forcing themselves over the border to "eat the cats".
> Ukraine fights off aggressor.
Using what, Field Marshal?
Using what, Field Marshal?
Mostly old Soviet stock, decades old Western surplus, and homegrown drones made from mostly Chinese parts.
I’m sure that will keep the Russians at bay.
Given the policies of the current US administration, neither will Anduril.
Irrelevant to core discussion.
Not sure what you're getting at, but it has been quite successful at that so far.
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The point of war is to make the other dumb bastard die for his country. I think everything we make to kill should kill efficiently and well. Then we can choose not use the device. But whichever arm it is that is meant to do the job should do the job well. Then the civilian government arm can choose to not fight a war or engage in whatever.
Good for them. Sounds like a hell of an experience riding that train as employee #20. Haha, at $250 m one would have thought a lot of the growth was baked in. But it 100x from there. Very nice.
Good for them. Sounds like a hell of an experience riding that train as employee #20. Haha, at $250 m one would have thought a lot of the growth was baked in. But it 100x from there. Very nice.
An amusement park that kills people.
That doesn’t seem super fun to me.
That doesn’t seem super fun to me.
More importantly to the plan than killing people - is running away with billions in tax dollars.
This sounds like such a sad and awful place. Some brilliant yet naive young people are being taken advantage of. (source: I was just like that at that age)
What is a cocaine-fueled "amusement park" to Silicon Valley techbros is another humans hell. I look forward to you guys joining it.
>I no longer love blue skies. In fact, I now prefer grey skies. The drones do not fly when the skies are grey.
>When the skies brighten, though, the drones return, and so too does the fear.
Zubair, 13 yrs old https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/2013/10/saddest-words-c...
>I no longer love blue skies. In fact, I now prefer grey skies. The drones do not fly when the skies are grey.
>When the skies brighten, though, the drones return, and so too does the fear.
Zubair, 13 yrs old https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/2013/10/saddest-words-c...
Is Anduril developing any products to protect schools? Perhaps R2D2-like sentinels?
>On a Saturday afternoon in April 2024, I was on the rooftop pool deck of a Marriott hotel, setting up radar equipment aimed above the Hollywood Hills in Burbank, California. My five-year-old son, still damp from swimming, darted around as I calibrated the system.
This has to be an FCC violation of some sort.
This has to be an FCC violation of some sort.
No, FCC doesn't care much about what you do with radar.
anduril paying for PR puff pieces and public billboards on the london underground prob means they're going to IPO soon. would also explain the recent war hawks and fear mongering to drive up defense stock prices.
The author seems to be really happy helping Israel commit genocide.
> I spent my paternity leave developing a 3D radar system
This just makes me so, so sad.
This person no matter what they may or may not achieve has all their priorities upside down.
This just makes me so, so sad.
This person no matter what they may or may not achieve has all their priorities upside down.
ramesh31(2)
The first three months of childcare are practically memoryless for the child. Provided they are cared for, you're not usually going to do any damage to their lives. An absent father during that period will be irrelevant so long as the child is fed, clothed, and kept comfortable. It's more about mechanical things.
It's pretty reasonable choice.
It's pretty reasonable choice.
The first three months of childcare are not memoryless for you, though.
One's duty is to provide for one's child. One may indulge oneself with the memories of infancy but to prioritize duty is not shameful. It is what fathers and mothers have done throughout history.
This person clearly has the choice. And they made it. That’s up to them. But it makes me sad because paternity leave was the most rewarding and magical time of my life and brought meaning to everything else. That someone got paternity leave (many people don’t and are forced to work!) and just used it for something else, just makes me sad.
This comment also makes me so, so sad.
> The first three months of childcare are practically memoryless for the child.
Source? The fact that you can't remember this period _now_ does not mean it has no impact on a child's development.
Source? The fact that you can't remember this period _now_ does not mean it has no impact on a child's development.
Rate and email available in profile.
If you're not willing to hold a conversation here without being paid, then you should not be on the site.
Source?
Actually says the opposite in there if you cared to read your "source" lol.
It doesn’t, actually. In fact it repeats a few times that it’s not ok to be annoying here.
I find it strange that this user is still not banned. They routinely behave like a jerk and violate the guidelines. Routinely.
You can reach out to the moderators if you feel strongly about this
i hope someday you learn what love is
Holy shit.
> Palmer and his team had already recognized the need for better defense technology to deter a greaey't power conflict and to maintain American hegemony.
I wonder if religious "saints" (nearly all of them were terror-mongering scum) of old had such confidence. Funnily, you'll even find "post-religious" liberals and Protestants defending their supposed enemies if they were killing/raping and plundering the "heathens" (forget Xtian-saints, they'll defend Islamic rampages and skull-mountain-building exercises the likes of which would have made both Genghis & Mohammed proud.)
"St. Xavier had already recognized on the need to start a inquisition against the heathens of Goa to maintain the hegemony of Christ so that the evil heathendom could not flourish any more in the piece of land Christ had promised."
Oh yes, we're so proud running 1000x foreign bases and dropping bombs on innocent civilians around the world for "freedom" - we definitely need to preserve our "hegemony".
Serious question - are Americans really this stupid ? I can remember 5-6 wars in the past 2 decades that all turned out to be regime-change ops because they wouldn't play ball to US diktats. Atleast British colonization of the world was honest (and those that were colonized were British subjects), without all this 3-d chess propaganda non-sense.
I wonder if religious "saints" (nearly all of them were terror-mongering scum) of old had such confidence. Funnily, you'll even find "post-religious" liberals and Protestants defending their supposed enemies if they were killing/raping and plundering the "heathens" (forget Xtian-saints, they'll defend Islamic rampages and skull-mountain-building exercises the likes of which would have made both Genghis & Mohammed proud.)
"St. Xavier had already recognized on the need to start a inquisition against the heathens of Goa to maintain the hegemony of Christ so that the evil heathendom could not flourish any more in the piece of land Christ had promised."
Oh yes, we're so proud running 1000x foreign bases and dropping bombs on innocent civilians around the world for "freedom" - we definitely need to preserve our "hegemony".
Serious question - are Americans really this stupid ? I can remember 5-6 wars in the past 2 decades that all turned out to be regime-change ops because they wouldn't play ball to US diktats. Atleast British colonization of the world was honest (and those that were colonized were British subjects), without all this 3-d chess propaganda non-sense.
Stupid, perhaps. But the idiots have brought us Pax Americana - an unprecedented peace across the world, with technological innovation never seen before, and America has been a river to humanity: through research, development, and open market access to the world.
Ideally there are no hegemons and we live in a multipolar peace, but if there must be hegemonies then you can't do much better than this.
Ideally there are no hegemons and we live in a multipolar peace, but if there must be hegemonies then you can't do much better than this.
But there isn't peace across the world? At all? Stop spitting Cool-Aid everywhere
Yes, the much desired weakening of America is having its effect. With the US no longer able to enforce, and actions like Operation Prosperity Guardian failing you have what you desire: the end of hegemony. Let's see now if you like it.
> an unprecedented peace across the world
Like in Iraq, Libya, Syria, Afghanistan? Also Sudan, Ethiopia and scores of other countries?
Like in Iraq, Libya, Syria, Afghanistan? Also Sudan, Ethiopia and scores of other countries?
St. Xavier is quite closer to modern Saints than to any "Saint" of old, and a lot of saints are Martyrs that suffered under empires that are much closer to America than anything.
This is a stupid comparison please go tip your Fedora somewhere else or try to be at least intelligent about it. Most saints were not warmongerers lmao.
Additionally your comment ignores the whole context of what was ging on in Goa at a time but even the most scolding protestants do not see m to qualify St.Xavier to Genghis lmao.
For context:
The 26 Martyrs of Japan (Japanese: 日本二十六聖人, Hepburn: Nihon Nijūroku Seijin) were a group of Catholics who were executed by crucifixion on 5 February 1597, in Nagasaki, Japan. Their martyrdom is especially significant in the history of the Catholic Church in Japan.
A promising beginning to Catholic missions in Japan – with perhaps as many as 300,000 Catholics by the end of the 16th century – met complications from competition between the missionary groups, political difficulty between Portugal and Spain and factions within the government of Japan. Christianity was suppressed and it was during this time that the twenty-six martyrs were executed. By 1630, Catholicism had been driven underground. When Christian missionaries returned to Japan 250 years later, they found a community of "hidden Catholics" that had survived underground.
St. Xavier was likely just seeing the writing in the wall with that comment and probably wanted to avoid something akin to what happened. Similarly perhaps maybe you have a bad concept of the inquisition based on years of (ironically enough) anglo imperial propaganda.
As a matter of fact the inquisition and similar catholic structures were preferred by people as they were more fair than the usual local court.
Additionally your comment ignores the whole context of what was ging on in Goa at a time but even the most scolding protestants do not see m to qualify St.Xavier to Genghis lmao.
For context:
The 26 Martyrs of Japan (Japanese: 日本二十六聖人, Hepburn: Nihon Nijūroku Seijin) were a group of Catholics who were executed by crucifixion on 5 February 1597, in Nagasaki, Japan. Their martyrdom is especially significant in the history of the Catholic Church in Japan.
A promising beginning to Catholic missions in Japan – with perhaps as many as 300,000 Catholics by the end of the 16th century – met complications from competition between the missionary groups, political difficulty between Portugal and Spain and factions within the government of Japan. Christianity was suppressed and it was during this time that the twenty-six martyrs were executed. By 1630, Catholicism had been driven underground. When Christian missionaries returned to Japan 250 years later, they found a community of "hidden Catholics" that had survived underground.
St. Xavier was likely just seeing the writing in the wall with that comment and probably wanted to avoid something akin to what happened. Similarly perhaps maybe you have a bad concept of the inquisition based on years of (ironically enough) anglo imperial propaganda.
As a matter of fact the inquisition and similar catholic structures were preferred by people as they were more fair than the usual local court.
Anduril employees think they're Tony Stark, but they're just cranking out cheap shit that kills people. America's enemies or whatever.
The employees seem to be laboring under the idea they're a family and the author sure seems to think so, but the 10% desired attrition rate and the weeks without sleep is really just an indicator they're expendable resources. They don't love you like that, man.
The employees seem to be laboring under the idea they're a family and the author sure seems to think so, but the 10% desired attrition rate and the weeks without sleep is really just an indicator they're expendable resources. They don't love you like that, man.
If the Ukraine war teaches us anything, cranking out large amounts of cheap shit that kills people is incredibly important.
If the Chinese trade war taught us anything, cranking out large amounts of cheap shit is something America cannot even threaten to do.
[deleted]
The amount of variants of "I missed <X> important event of my life to build a drone made to [kill people|break shit|arrest small time drug dealers]" in that article makes me think of complete fucking insanity instead of amusement park, but sure.
Skipping your paternity leave to release a shitty SaaS for a startup is already dumb shit, but doing so for the US military is some sociopathic behavior.
Also, for all their jerking off: congrats, you reinvented Skunkworks. Inevitably, in a few years, Anduril will be captured by political interests greater than them, and will become the same kind of crap company that Lockheed Martin is. And the world will be better off knowing there's fewer people making things to bomb brown people.
(And before any "uuuh but what about ukraiiine" response: the US will. never. be. attacked. Its conventional force is plenty enough to threaten any adversary. You can relax, the Chinese aren't coming to conquer Alaska, put down the power armor)
Skipping your paternity leave to release a shitty SaaS for a startup is already dumb shit, but doing so for the US military is some sociopathic behavior.
Also, for all their jerking off: congrats, you reinvented Skunkworks. Inevitably, in a few years, Anduril will be captured by political interests greater than them, and will become the same kind of crap company that Lockheed Martin is. And the world will be better off knowing there's fewer people making things to bomb brown people.
(And before any "uuuh but what about ukraiiine" response: the US will. never. be. attacked. Its conventional force is plenty enough to threaten any adversary. You can relax, the Chinese aren't coming to conquer Alaska, put down the power armor)
> the US will. never. be. attacked. Its conventional force is plenty enough to threaten any adversary.
That's what the Romans, the Spanish, the Portuguese, and the British said. There's no need to attack an 'empire' that implodes from within.
That's what the Romans, the Spanish, the Portuguese, and the British said. There's no need to attack an 'empire' that implodes from within.
[deleted]
the us have already been attacked. Terrorists don't care about conventional forces.
Thank you for providing even more proof that a conventional army will never attack the United States. But hey, if you think the next Bin Laden is going to smuggle Shaheds in the country, and that the solution is to militarize every single city, have fun.
"The Amusement Park for Engineers"
A company which needs you to build things to kill anyone and everyone with AI. BIG FUN! /s
But maybe I am the only one who thinks this is just SICK.
A company which needs you to build things to kill anyone and everyone with AI. BIG FUN! /s
But maybe I am the only one who thinks this is just SICK.
> That makeshift tower, which we built on our own dime to prove what was possible, helped intercept nearly 1,000 pounds of marijuana and led to dozens of drug trafficking arrests—ultimately earning us a pilot program with Customs and Border Protection
Wow such high impact work. Surely making the world a more better place than those Silicon Valley leftists
Wow such high impact work. Surely making the world a more better place than those Silicon Valley leftists