Anduril CEO Palmer Luckey says the defense tech company will 'definitely' go public

Palmer Luckey, the founder and CEO of Anduril Industries, confirmed on Tuesday that the defense technology startup is preparing to go public. In an interview with CNBC's "Closing Bell: Overtime," he stated, "We are definitely going to be a publicly traded company," emphasizing that the company is structured to operate as such. Luckey pointed out the challenges for private companies like Anduril in securing substantial defense contracts, particularly those worth trillions, without being publicly listed. However, he did not provide a specific timeline for the initial public offering (IPO). Since its inception, Anduril has emerged as one of the most valued private tech entities in the U.S., establishing itself as a leader in the defense tech sector. The company has made significant strides in competing with established giants like Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman. This year, Anduril earned the top spot on the CNBC Disruptor 50 list. Founded in 2017 after Luckey's departure from Meta, Anduril has maintained momentum in fundraising, recently securing $2.5 billion at a staggering valuation of $30.5 billion, which more than doubles its worth from a prior funding round led by Peter Thiel's Founders Fund. Moreover, Anduril has taken over Microsoft's $22 billion augmented-reality headset program for the U.S. Army and has formed a partnership with OpenAI. Earlier this year, the company also announced plans to invest approximately $1 billion in a manufacturing facility in Ohio. In a surprising twist, Luckey mentioned a revived collaboration with Meta, stating, "I'm working with Meta because we've buried the hatchet and because there's a lot of incredible technology that they have, that paired with Anduril, can make a huge difference for the American war fighter."