Anduril Industries’ senior managers recently visited Israel to foster partnerships with local defense firms like Elbit Systems and Rafael. Interestingly, some of these executives have privately invested in an Israeli startup named Traysar, which focuses on manufacturing engineering components and machinery for countering terrorist tunnels.
Traysar secured $25 million in funding from prominent investors, including Anduril founders, high-profile SpaceX engineers, and various venture capitalists. The company’s valuation is reportedly around $100 million, although this figure has not been officially disclosed.
Traysar’s technology includes a mini mechanical digger tailored for demolishing terrorist tunnels, already deployed in the Gaza Strip, as well as technology aimed at addressing smuggling tunnels along the US-Mexico border. The company’s innovation also includes a tunnel boring machine intended for operations against deep underground military bases, including sites in Iran.
The leadership of Traysar includes experienced figures: CEO Yadin Soffer, a serial entrepreneur; Asher Katz, who served in an IDF tunnel detection unit; and Gilad Adin, known for his previous role as the CEO of Channel 10 News.
While Anduril’s Palmer Luckey has been a proponent of investing in subterranean warfare, the practicality and demand for such technologies in larger conflicts, such as those involving Iran or China, raise questions about the company’s long-term market viability.
