Who got a $20 billion Army AI contract? | Defense Dollars

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Now, the U.S. Army says it has signed a 10-year contract with defense technology startup Anderil that could be worth up to $20 billion

The agreement begins with a five-year base period and includes an option to extend for an additional five years

The deal covers Anduril's hardware, software, infrastructure and services and consolidates more than 120 separate procurement actions into a single enterprise contract

Defense officials say the move will help the military acquire and deploy software capabilities faster as modern warfare becomes increasingly software driven

Anduril was co-founded by Palmer Luckey, the entrepreneur who previously sold the virtual reality company Oculus to Facebook

now Meta. The defense startup has gained prominence for its focus on autonomous military technology

including drones and other advanced systems. Reports also suggest the company is in talks

to raise new funding at a valuation of about $60 billion, following an estimated $2 billion

in revenue last year. The contract comes as the Defense Department navigates broader debates

over the use of artificial intelligence in military applications. Meanwhile, Turkish drone maker Bekar has successfully tested its K-2 Kamikaze unmanned aerial vehicle

demonstrating advanced autonomy, artificial intelligence, and formation flight capabilities. Five K-2 UAVs took off from a flight training and test center

completing right echelon, line, and V formations over the Gulf of Soros

The platform uses AI and sensors to maintain position within swarms and is capable of additional configurations

NAICAR aims to field cost mass UAVs with potential reusability even in electronic warfare environments where signals may be jammed or unavailable

The K2 Kamikaze UAV is the largest platform in its class, with a maximum takeoff weight of 800 kilograms and the ability to carry a 200-kilogram warhead

It boasts a range of over 2,000 kilometers, speed above 200 kilometers per hour

and endurance exceeding 13 hours. Now, Baycar Entirely self-funded reported exports of $2.2 billion in 2025

with 90% of revenue generated internationally, making it a key driver of Turkey's high-tech exports

And now one more story before you go. The UK Ministry of Defense has awarded maritime technology company

Kraken Technology Group a 12.3 million pound contract to support the development of uncrewed surface vessels for the Royal Navy's transition to a hybrid fleet

Under Project Beehive, Kraken will deliver 20 advanced modular UK-built USVs and provide training, tactical, and warfare support for the Royal Navy's surface flotea

The USVs are designed with full modular open systems, architecture, and modular payload capabilities

capabilities, ensuring flexibility for future autonomous maritime applications. This contract follows Kraken's recent success with the U.S. Special Operations Command

in which the company was tapped to develop unmanned surface and subsurface vessels

Founded just five years ago, Kraken has rapidly expanded, working with the MOD

NATO Task Force X, and multiple SOCOM innovation cycles, while attracting a wide range of

investments from the NATO Innovation Fund to the British National Security Strategic Investment Fund

And that wraps up your defense dollars for this week. Join us on Cheddar.com and DefenseNews.com for more stories like these