Anduril Acquired Underwater Modem Firm Popoto
The defense firm aims to scale autonomous maritime fleets by integrating acoustic mesh networking.
Updated on Oct. 8, 2026 in Robotics
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Anduril has acquired Massachusetts-based Popoto Modem to integrate underwater acoustic communications technology into its Copperhead autonomous underwater vehicle fleet. This move follows a year of collaborative development aimed at overcoming cost and scale constraints in maritime operations.
Why it matters
The acquisition targets the high cost of current undersea communications, which prevents large-scale coordination of autonomous vehicles. By building more efficient networking, Anduril intends to shift toward command structures where a single operator manages large fleets.
Popoto Modem technology enables multi-node mesh networking for data transfer between underwater vehicles and surface vessels. This capability contrasts with traditional, expensive hardware that historically restricted the size of autonomous undersea formations.
The players
Anduril
A defense technology company building a stack of autonomous systems and command software for maritime and aerial applications.
Popoto Modem
A Massachusetts-based developer of acoustic communications technology for undersea robotic platforms.
The details
Popoto Modem develops specialized hardware for acoustic communications, which use sound waves to transmit data through water where radio signals cannot penetrate. Anduril plans to embed this acoustic mesh networking directly into its Copperhead family of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) — robotic submersibles designed for maritime surveillance and defense. By decentralizing communication through mesh nodes, the systems allow individual vehicles in a large fleet to pass data to one another, effectively extending the operational range and coordination of the formation.
Timeline
Over the past year: Anduril and Popoto Modem collaborated on system integrations.
2026: Anduril demonstrated platform integration at BlueTIDE and Lanternfish exercises.
October 7, 2026: Anduril announced the acquisition of Popoto Modem.
The Tech Race
This acquisition follows the performance benchmarks established during the 2026 BlueTIDE and Lanternfish exercises where Anduril tested its maritime platforms. The move positions Anduril to move beyond prototyping and toward standardizing acoustic communication across its autonomous fleet.
Maritime operators will see improved scalability for large-scale underwater vehicle formations as the technology moves into production. While no specific commercial rollout dates for the upgraded Copperhead fleet were announced, the acquisition suggests that these networking capabilities are intended for immediate integration into existing defense development pipelines.
The takeaway
Anduril is prioritizing the scaling of undersea mesh networks to move away from limited, high-cost communication hardware. Observers should monitor future defense contract awards or technical disclosures from upcoming 2027 fleet exercises for evidence of increased fleet size and coordination.
Further reading
Explore the latest developments in autonomous systems on our Robotics page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Ocean News & Technology.
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