The joint effort aims to enhance situational awareness for soldiers and allow more intuitive control of autonomous platforms on the battlefield. According to both companies, this development is being privately funded—requiring no taxpayer dollars
Meta is partnering with defense technology company Anduril to develop a new range of integrated extended reality (XR) products for the U.S. military, marking a significant move into defense-focused applications of advanced tech.
The tech giant, best known for platforms like Facebook and Instagram, has spent the last decade investing heavily in artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality (AR). Now, Meta believes these innovations can revolutionize battlefield operations.
“Meta has spent the last decade building AI and AR to enable the computing platform of the future,” said Mark Zuckerberg, Founder and CEO of Meta. “We’re proud to partner with Anduril to help bring these technologies to the American servicemembers that protect our interests at home and abroad.”
The joint effort aims to enhance situational awareness for soldiers and allow more intuitive control of autonomous platforms on the battlefield. According to both companies, this development is being privately funded—requiring no taxpayer dollars. The collaboration is designed to support American warfighters by merging the immersive capabilities of XR with military-grade applications. XR—an umbrella term encompassing virtual, augmented, and mixed reality—is seen as a key tool for enhancing real-time decision-making and operational efficiency in combat zones.
Palmer Luckey, Founder of Anduril and previously the creator of Oculus (now owned by Meta), expressed his enthusiasm for the renewed partnership. “I am glad to be working with Meta once again,” he said. “Of all the areas where dual-use technology can make a difference for America, this is the one I am most excited about.”
Luckey emphasized the transformative potential of the technology in modern warfare. “My mission has long been to turn warfighters into technomancers, and the products we are building with Meta do just that.”
This announcement comes at a time when military forces globally are increasingly exploring advanced tech for combat, training, and strategy. By merging Silicon Valley innovation with defense priorities, Meta and Anduril aim to redefine how technology can serve national security objectives in the years to come.
