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Anduril Industries has been awarded a US$99.6 million (AU$147 million) contract by the US Army to lead development of a prototype for its Next Generation Command and Control (NGC2) system.
This contract marks a key initiative to modernise the Army’s communications and decision-making infrastructure to provide the US Army with a decision-making edge over peer and near-peer competitors.
The agreement, issued under the Other Transaction Authority (OTA) by the Program Executive Office Command, Control, Communications, and Network (PEO C3N), will see Anduril and a coalition of high-tech partners, including Palantir, Striveworks, Govini, Instant Connect Enterprise (ICE), Research Innovations, Inc (RII), and Microsoft deliver a scalable, modular digital architecture designed to give soldiers and commanders an edge in fast-paced combat environments.
In future conflicts, combat formations rolling through heavily fortified zones will rely on NGC2 to detect and respond to threats in real time.
For example, a soldier launching a reconnaissance drone might uncover hidden enemy positions. With NGC2, this critical data can be instantly transmitted to commanders on mobile devices kilometres away, who can then issue updated orders to frontline units within seconds – dramatically increasing the effectiveness and survivability of the force.
Anduril said in a statement: “NGC2 is how the Army is preparing for connected warfare. It’s not just about faster decisions – it’s about better, more informed decisions enabled by a new software-first approach to battle management.”
According to Anduril, the prototype will incorporate the company’s Lattice Mesh system, which enables machine-to-machine communication and advanced battlefield automation. Lattice Mesh is already deployed across a number of Pentagon-led projects, including the US Department of Defense’s Edge Data Mesh initiative run by the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office.
The NGC2 project aims to break down legacy stovepipes in military communications by integrating sensors, vehicles, command posts, and soldiers into a unified digital ecosystem.
This would allow for real-time visibility of enemy movements, logistics, terrain, weapon status, and tactical decisions across all echelons, from corps down to company level, enhancing situational awareness and coordination.
Under the new agreement, Anduril and its partners will deliver the NGC2 prototype directly to the 4th Infantry Division. The system will be tested across a range of mechanised platforms, with real-world exercises and “soldier touchpoints” to refine the software’s performance under operational conditions. The platform is also designed to be extensible, with the capacity to incorporate future tools, partners, and technologies as required.
The contract reinforces Anduril’s growing presence in the defence technology sector. Best known for its work on autonomous systems, counter-drone platforms, and AI-driven command solutions, the company is positioning itself as a key partner to militaries seeking faster, more agile battlefield systems that fuse artificial intelligence, edge computing, and modern software architectures.
“This announcement highlights Anduril’s core mission: to deliver decisive battlefield advantage from the information our allies rely on, to the weapons they carry. And we’re only just getting started,” the company said.
