Anduril now says its BlueChip laptop will meet Buy American standards at launch
On Tuesday, defense contractor Anduril and chipmaker Qualcomm announced a partnership to build laptops entirely in the United States, starting with a single model in 2027. They also announced a "long-term goal" of pushing the computer industry to create "a fully domestic supply chain." Even a single Made-in-USA laptop would be a surprise, because no major US computer company builds its laptops here - not Apple, not…
Key points
- Anduril and Qualcomm plan to build a laptop entirely in the US starting in 2027.
- Anduril now says the laptop will have at least 65 percent US-made components at launch.
- The current prototype is about 32 percent US-origin by component procurement cost.
Defense contractor Anduril and chipmaker Qualcomm announced on Tuesday a partnership to build laptops entirely in the United States, beginning with a single model in 2027. The companies also set a long-term goal of pushing the computer industry toward a fully domestic supply chain.
No major US computer company currently builds laptops in the country, according to the article. Anduril founder Palmer Luckey said the companies have a technical roadmap to reach 100 percent domestic production over time.
Buy American standard
The Buy American Act, updated during the Biden administration, requires at least 65 percent of a product's cost to be made domestically for it to count as a domestic product. That threshold rises to 75 percent in 2029.
Anduril communications VP Shannon Prior said the BlueChip laptop will exceed the 65 percent threshold at launch in 2027. Earlier this week, the company had not committed to that number.
We have a technical roadmap to get to 100 percent domestic over time.
— Palmer Luckey
Prototype and production
Anduril spokesperson Stephanie Davis said the current prototype is approximately 32 percent US-origin by component procurement cost, with more than 90 percent sourced from the US and allied countries combined. Luckey told reporters the final percentage was still to be determined.
Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon said the laptop's Snapdragon processor will be made at TSMC's manufacturing facility in Arizona. Luckey said Anduril has a US glassmaker lined up and is developing made-in-America batteries.
