Anduril and Qualcomm partner on U.S. laptop

Anduril, a U.S. military technology provider, has joined forces with Qualcomm to create a laptop designed to be fully manufactured in the United States. This effort aligns with policies linked to former President Donald Trump's administration, which emphasized domestic production and reduced reliance on foreign manufacturing.

Project uses Qualcomm's government-focused chips

The new laptop will use Qualcomm's Bluechip product line, which is tailored for government, defense, and public safety applications. Qualcomm, which has previously engaged in offshoring, now aims to support the "Made in the United States" initiative by contributing to the project.

Laptops will be built in Ohio

Anduril, founded by Palmer Luckey, who is known for creating virtual reality headsets for Meta, will manufacture the laptops in its Ohio facility. This site specializes in defense technologies such as drones and missiles, and the company sees laptop production as a similar process, except for the inclusion of a screen and keyboard.

Chips will be made in Arizona by TSMC

The Qualcomm chips for the laptops will be produced in Arizona by TSMC, a Taiwanese company with an existing plant in the state. TSMC plans to expand its operations in Arizona, which could help meet the demand for the laptop's components.

Most components are from U.S. or allied suppliers

Functional prototypes of the laptops have already been built, with 90% of their components sourced from American suppliers or allied countries. However, Luckey noted that screens remain a challenge, as there are no U.S. factories dedicated to producing LCD or OLED panels, which are currently sourced from South Korea, Taiwan, and China.

Production challenges and future plans

Luckey mentioned that discussions are ongoing with potential suppliers to address the screen issue, with more details expected at CES 2027. The laptops are expected to be more expensive than those made in China, and there are concerns about quality due to potential suppliers' lack of experience. Production is anticipated to start as early as 2027, though no sales date has been set.