Pepperdine Graziadio 2020 MFC Winner Adranos Takes Off with New Defense Contracting Deal in SpaceNews

Adranos, a manufacturer of solid rocket motors and Pepperdine Graziadio Business School Most Fundable Companies winner, has been acquired by defense contractor Anduril Industries.

Founded in 2015, Adranos manufactures solid rocket motors in coastal Mississippi and last year opened a fuel-production facility in Indiana. The company also develops high-performance solid rocket fuel, called ALITEC, to power solid rocket motors used in tactical missiles and space launch vehicles that can increase the range or payload capacity of launch systems by up to 40 percent.

Anduril Industries is a defense technology specialist company specializing in artificial intelligence, machine learning and automation. It developed drones and artificial intelligence software to help Ukrainian forces conduct surveillance and reconnaissance missions.

Adranos CEO Chris Stoker said the acquisition will help the company “rapidly mature our technology and scale our team and production capabilities to thousands of traditional and ALITEC solid rocket motors per year.”

Adranos was named to Pepperdine Graziadio’s MFC list in 2020, which identifies and connects promising early-stage companies with resources and opportunities to seek funding outside of usual major investment areas, like Silicon Valley or New York.

Pepperdine Graziadio is a leading academic institution in entrepreneurship specializing in second stage entrepreneurs as a way of highlighting our suite of MBA programs. The top companies selected for the annual MFC list receive national recognition and are featured at the Business School’s annual October showcase event in Malibu. Companies receive exclusive brand exposure to potential strategic partners, investors, customers, and new hires. 

More information about Adranos and the acquisition can be found in SpaceNews.