Anduril Industries, the United States-based defence technology firm, is weighing the possibility of producing its Steelfin interceptor missiles at European facilities, a move tied to growing demand for lower-cost air defence solutions across a continent shaped by persistent geopolitical tensions.
Anduril's European vice president, Brian Moran, outlined the company's interest in joint work with Polish defence manufacturers and end-users on building out local production capacity for the Steelfin missile system, speaking to a broadcast news outlet. Moran noted that Anduril's door to collaboration with European governments and industrial partners remains open, with the possibility of broadening the company's manufacturing footprint across the continent.
Anduril's Steelfin interceptor missile is scheduled to enter its flight-testing phase in 2027, following the weapon system's public introduction. The scheduled trials mark a step forward in the firm's effort to bring a lower-cost option to a market currently dominated by traditional missile defence systems.
Prolonged fighting in Ukraine and across the Gulf has drawn down stockpiles of air defence interceptors, pushing procurement demand above levels those theatres had previously required. Supply bottlenecks and extended procurement timelines have led governments to seek new production facilities and examine other options for meeting their defence needs.
Steelfin is being developed to work alongside existing air defence systems — including the Patriot — rather than replace them, with Anduril framing the interceptor as a gap-filling addition to layered defensive architectures. As Moran described it, the weapon is built around a cost-reduction principle, offering armed forces a lower-priced layer of protection that frees up higher-value interceptor missiles for threats deemed more pressing.
Anduril has identified Poland as a potential base for production operations as part of its expanding defence presence in Europe. Talks over a possible Polish manufacturing arrangement for the Barracuda-500 cruise missile are under way at the firm. Moran noted that lessons drawn from that programme could lay the groundwork for further manufacturing work tied to other defence technologies within Anduril's portfolio.
Expanding missile output within Europe carries the potential to strengthen supply chains, shore up readiness across defence sectors, and widen the stockpile of available military hardware. Ties between the European defence sector and Anduril could open a path toward building out domestic missile production while reducing reliance on supply chains based abroad.
No manufacturing deal for Steelfin has yet been confirmed, though Anduril's pursuit of European partners points to a broader push toward weapons production within the region. Scheduled Steelfin flight evaluations in 2027, combined with active negotiations under way in Poland, represent two threads in a broader effort by European governments to bolster air defence capabilities and advance military readiness.
