Anduril enters next phase of Israel strategy
As it builds a permanent presence in Israel, the $61 billion defense company has identified former Air Force commander Amikam Norkin as a leading candidate to lead its local operations.
American defense technology company Anduril, which is considering a major expansion into the Israeli market, has identified former Israeli Air Force Commander Maj. Gen. (res.) Amikam Norkin as one of the leading candidates to head its operations in the country, Calcalist has learned.
The company, whose private-market valuation recently climbed to $61 billion, is in the process of establishing a permanent presence in Israel to strengthen ties with the Ministry of Defense and the IDF, pursue sales of advanced autonomous systems, and identify strategic partnerships or acquisitions among local defense-tech startups.
Norkin's candidacy reflects Anduril's desire to appoint a leader with deep operational and strategic expertise to spearhead its Israeli operations. Norkin stepped down as commander of the Israeli Air Force in 2022 after more than three decades of military service. Since leaving the military, he has served as a managing partner at Ace Capital Partners, an investment fund focused on aerospace and defense technologies.
The connection between Norkin and Anduril is a natural one, given that much of the company's business is centered on autonomous aerospace systems. Founded by Oculus creator Palmer Luckey, Anduril has reshaped the U.S. defense market by challenging traditional contractors such as Lockheed Martin and Boeing, while winning major Pentagon contracts to develop autonomous aircraft, including the Fury combat drone, as well as advanced air defense systems.
The upcoming visit to Israel by Anduril CEO and co-founder Brian Schimpf is intended to advance the selection of the company's local leadership and explore strategic collaborations. The move comes after Anduril partnered with Elbit Systems to submit a proposal for the Sigma self-propelled artillery system for the U.S. Army, a collaboration that illustrates the company's strategy of combining traditional defense hardware with its AI-powered Lattice software platform.
