Anduril's vision for powering maritime defense

Dual-use technologies and the rise of defense tech are having a moment. But how does the defense sector approach innovations in energy that may be necessary to optimize its fleets?

To help answer that question, Shayle turns to the maritime sector to explore how advanced batteries, nuclear propulsion, and autonomous capabilities are shaping the future of defense.

Unlike conventional EVs, maritime vehicles and drones must compete with the challenges presented by the sea in order to complete surveillance and reconnaissance-related missions, as well as direct attacks. Saltwater corrodes hardware, and vehicles at great depths must withstand enormous pressure; to say nothing of the fact that moving through water requires nearly 1,000 times more energy than through air. 

To learn how the sector navigates these obstacles, Shayle sits down with Andrew Nuss, the head of growth and strategy in the maritime division at the defense technology company Anduril. They unpack topics including:

- The complicated physics influencing maritime drone design and energy usage

- How lithium-ion cells fare in deep-sea deployment

- Why extreme reliability and long-range capabilities drive the military’s energy requirements compared to commercial shipping

- How surface or subsea recharging depots could reshape vehicle design

- Why both commercial and defense sectors are revisiting nuclear propulsion as a viable option for high-speed, zero-emission surface vessels

Catalyst: The rise of metal fuels

- Catalyst: GM’s big new battery tech push

- Catalyst: Decarbonizing the high seas