Brian Schimpf

CEO of Anduril, a defense technology company

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Key positions and views

The primary determinant of military success is shifting from technological superiority to the ability to rapidly produce affordable, software-adaptable systems at scale.

The U.S. defense procurement system is fundamentally broken, prioritizing costly, complex systems not designed for mass production and wasting its budget on sustainment and fixed costs.

China's strategic weaponization of its supply chains poses a critical national security threat to the U.S. by limiting its geopolitical and economic independence.

A major geopolitical shift is underway where U.S. allies in Europe and the Indo-Pacific are massively increasing defense spending, creating a larger market opportunity than the U.S. itself.

The U.S. could achieve double its current military capability from the same procurement budget by shifting its spending to a different mix of weapons and aircraft, likely favoring autonomous systems.

Podcast consensus on Schimpf

Points of consensus

▶The U.S. defense procurement system is inefficient, slow, and misallocates its budget towards sustaining legacy systems and fixed costs rather than acquiring next-generation technology.Apr 2026

▶The decisive factor in modern military conflict is shifting from a long-term technological edge to the ability to rapidly produce affordable, software-adaptable systems at scale.Apr 2026

▶Geopolitical shifts, including a change in U.S. foreign policy and the rise of China, are compelling allied nations in Europe and the Indo-Pacific to dramatically increase their defense spending.Apr 2026

▶Anduril's business model—focused on speed, software integration, and performance-based contracts—is positioned as the solution to the shortcomings of the traditional defense industrial base.Apr 2026

Points of debate

▶Schimpf identifies a core debate between the traditional defense strategy of prioritizing maximum capability in exquisite, high-cost platforms versus his advocated approach of mass-producing affordable, adaptable systems.Apr 2026

▶He contrasts the legacy cost-plus contracting model favored by the government with Anduril's preference for performance-based contracts where payment is contingent on the product working.Apr 2026

▶A key point of tension he highlights is the budgetary conflict between the high cost of sustaining legacy military systems and the need to procure new, innovative equipment.Apr 2026

▶He implicitly frames a debate over national strategy: whether to accept economic dependence on potential adversaries like China or to treat supply chain resilience as a critical national security imperative.Apr 2026

Key themes

▶The Obsolescence of the Traditional Defense PrimeApr 2026

Schimpf argues that the legacy U.S. defense procurement model, which has prioritized maximum capability at any cost for 40 years, is now a liability. This has resulted in slow, undependable production, exemplified by multi-year backlogs for systems like the Patriot, and a budget dominated by sustainment rather than innovation.

This theme suggests a significant market disruption opportunity for agile companies like Anduril that can offer speed, scale, and affordability, directly challenging the entrenched position of established defense contractors.

▶Software and Scale as the New Military DoctrineApr 2026

He posits that the decisive factor in future conflicts will not be a singular technological edge in hardware, but the ability to rapidly produce affordable systems at scale. Crucially, these systems must be adaptable through a common software backbone, like Anduril's Lattice, allowing for rapid innovation cycles.

Investors should view Anduril not just as a hardware company but as a software-centric enterprise where integrated platforms are the core value proposition, enabling a network of collaborative autonomous systems.

▶Geopolitical Realignment and Allied RearmamentApr 2026

Schimpf identifies a major shift in U.S. foreign policy where allies are now expected to take primary responsibility for their own defense. This, coupled with global threats, is driving substantial increases in defense budgets in Europe, Japan, Taiwan, and Australia, creating a vast new market for defense technology.

The international market, particularly in Europe and the Indo-Pacific, represents a primary growth vector that Schimpf predicts will soon dwarf U.S. procurement, signaling a diversification of revenue away from sole reliance on the Pentagon.

▶Economic Security as National SecurityApr 2026

Schimpf highlights China's strategic use of state power to create global dependence on its supply chains for goods from iPhones to cars. He argues this dependence severely limits the United States' ability to act independently and impose economic sanctions, posing a direct national security threat.

This perspective frames the need for domestic manufacturing and resilient supply chains not just as an economic issue but as a critical component of national defense strategy, creating opportunities for companies involved in reshoring critical industries.

Source episodes

Sentiment over time

Not enough data for timeline

Changes over time

~2016

Anduril was founded, growing over the subsequent eight years to approximately 7,000 employees.

~2021

Schimpf notes that at this time, the idea of Anduril producing autonomous fighter jets was not considered believable by outsiders.

Present

Claims Anduril has surpassed $1 billion in revenue and is continuing to double annually, while preparing to manufacture autonomous fighter jets within months.

Recent

Demonstrated rapid production capability by delivering the first production model of its Ghost Shark autonomous submarine for Australia within 30 days of signing the contract.

Suggested prompts

How does Brian Schimpf's strategy of focusing on 3-5 year product cycles contrast with the traditional multi-decade development programs of legacy defense contractors? &nearr;What are the primary risks to Schimpf's prediction that European defense procurement will quadruple that of the US in the next five years? &nearr;To what extent is Anduril's success dependent on the continued inefficiency of the US Department of Defense's procurement process? &nearr;How does Schimpf's view on the strategic threat of China's supply chain dominance inform Anduril's product and manufacturing strategy? &nearr;

Key concepts

Defense Procurement Reform 1 ep Geopolitics 1 ep Autonomous Systems 1 ep US Defense Budget 1 ep Anduril Corporate Strategy 1 ep Supply Chain Security 1 ep International Defense Markets 1 ep Manufacturing at Scale 1 ep

Notable quotes

“increasingly the ability to produce at scale in a way you can afford the ability to innovate fast on the software to rapidly adapt these capabilities, that's going to be the determinative characteristic, right?”

Brian Schimpf · Anduril CEO Brian Schimpf on $1B+ Revenue & Still Doubling

“Europe is going to spend something like four times the amount of procurement that the U.S. is over the next five years.”

Brian Schimpf · Anduril CEO Brian Schimpf on $1B+ Revenue & Still Doubling

“the latest number someone told me over the weekend was 15 years to get a new patriot system like what does that even mean like i have no idea what that means right but it's like call it even five to seven for a backlog like this is crazy so the u.s isn't a dependable producer anymore”

Brian Schimpf · Anduril CEO Brian Schimpf on $1B+ Revenue & Still Doubling

“more than half goes to personnel costs, to facilities, to military construction. So you just have an outrageous percentage going to these, you know, kind of fixed costs that you have that are not next generation technology.”

Brian Schimpf · Anduril CEO Brian Schimpf on $1B+ Revenue & Still Doubling

Report last updated: Apr 21, 2026

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