Anduril's Palmer Luckey on AI, nukes, and the war in Iran | The Axios Show

Sun, 12 Apr 2026 11:07:31 +0000

Anduril founder Palmer Luckey joins Defense Reporter Colin Demarest on The Axios Show to discuss the intersection of AI and modern defense, the reality of nuclear deterrence, and the escalating tensions in Iran.

In this exclusive interview, Luckey dives into Anduril’s role in modern conflict and why he believes technology, not just manpower, is the decisive factor in the U.S. defense strategy.

Timestamps:
00:00 - Teaser: Nuclear weapons and subterranean warfare
00:28 - Introduction: Palmer Luckey and Anduril Industries
01:01 - Defining Anduril's mission and culture
02:19 - Where is Anduril effective? (Ukraine, Middle East, Australia)
03:18 - Competing with defense giants (Lockheed, Boeing, Northrup)
04:24 - The "Caricature" of tech leaders and recruiting on social media
05:46 - Palmer's favorite project: Fury autonomous fighter jet
06:53 - Red lines on weapons: Nuclear, chemical or biological
08:48 - The debate on offensive autonomous weapons & supply chains
12:31 - Geopolitical strategy: Iran and "World Gun Store" doctrine
15:09 - Influential figures and honesty at the Pentagon
17:30 - Luckey says Gavin Newsom saved Anduril
19:02 - Scaling up: Arsenal 1 and going public
21:19 - Who is winning the AI race? (U.S. vs. China)
23:01 - The next frontier: Subterranean warfare
24:52 - Lightning Round: Hair, "Wolf Ears," and Evangelion