Anduril acquires air-launched effects company Area-I

Defense technology company Anduril Industries said today it has acquired Area-I, a Marietta, GA-based company focused on air-launched effects.

"The acquisition expands Anduril's portfolio of unmanned aerial systems, creates new opportunities for its software-defined capabilities such as mission autonomy and intelligent teaming and significantly accelerates the company's strategic growth," Anduril said.

The company said Area-I will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary and continue to use its brand.

In an interview with Inside Defense, Brian Schimpf, Anduril's chief executive, said the company closed the acquisition last week. He said Anduril is not planning to make any reductions to employees or facilities.

"It's going to be a very collaborative partnership," Schmipf said of how the two companies will work together. "We're not looking to keep it at arms length."

During the same interview, Nicholas Alley, Area-I's chief executive, said the company has nearly 100 employees.

The deal, he told Inside Defense, will help the company "better partner with our customers." Area-I already counts among its customers the Army, Air Force and Navy, among others.

"Instead of leaning on them to fund all of the technology development," he said, Anduril and Area-I will be able to invest in new technology.

Schimpf said Anduril remains interested in additional acquisitions.

"We want to be a next-generation defense technology company," he said. "If there are other companies that are like-minded, that are looking to kind of join forces . . . we're absolutely open to it."