How the ‘Elon Musk of missiles’ is plotting to blow up the defence industry

Palmer Luckey founded defence technology company Anduril Industries in 2017 .

Luckey is known for a combative and swaggering style that attracts comparisons with Elon Musk , the founder of electric carmaker Tesla and rocket company SpaceX.

The company has secured business from the Pentagon , Australia and the UK ’s Ministry of Defence , among other customers.

Luckey has said his goal is to emulate Musk’s SpaceX , which muscled its way into contracts with US space agency NASA by offering dramatically cheaper rocket launches than bigger, traditional rivals.

Anduril embarrassed some of its bigger rivals when its “Fury” drone beat alternatives made by Lockheed , Boeing and Northrop Grumman in a competition to design an autonomous fighter jet for the US Air Force .

Anduril Luckey 's willingness to work with the military has attracted criticism from some quarters in Silicon Valley .

But the billionaire is unrepentant about his mission, arguing that those who oppose a strong Western military posture are playing into the hands of China and Russia by holding such “luxury beliefs”.