Purdue-based startup company purchased by defense products company

Margaret Christopherson, Lafayette Journal & Courier
·2 min read

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. − A Purdue-based startup company has been acquired by a major Costa Mesa, California-based defense products company, Anduril Industries.

Adranos Inc. is a Purdue-originated company that grew from a doctoral project. According to Purdue, Adranos is a "manufacturer of solid rocket motors and maker of ALITEC, a high-performance solid rocket fuel that gives greater payload capacity, range and speed to launch systems."

The acquisition was announced earlier this week in the Wall Street Journal.

“The success of Adranos is the latest manifestation of Purdue’s heritage of flying with innovation and signifies three growing strengths at our university in recent years: startup creation by Boilermakers, national security and defense research for America, and economic development in Discovery Park District,” said Purdue President Mung Chiang in the release. “Many future successes will be delivered in these directions through Purdue Innovates, Purdue Applied Research Institute and the Hard Tech Corridor.”

Purdue-affiliated startup Adranos, manufacturer of solid rocket motors and maker of ALITEC, a high-performance solid rocket fuel that gives greater payload capacity, range and speed to launch systems, has been sold to Anduril Industries. (Photo provided by Adranos Inc.)
Purdue-affiliated startup Adranos, manufacturer of solid rocket motors and maker of ALITEC, a high-performance solid rocket fuel that gives greater payload capacity, range and speed to launch systems, has been sold to Anduril Industries. (Photo provided by Adranos Inc.)

Brandon Terry invented ALITEC in 2015 while he was a postdoctoral student in Purdue's School of Aeronautics and Astronautics, according to the university. He went on to continue his work in the Purdue School of Mechanical Engineering.

"After the company was founded, Adranos participated in Purdue Innovates’ accelerator program in the Startup Foundry, which gave the company access to mentors, investors and other valuable resources," the release said. "Adranos also leveraged connections with the Foundry's alumni network and received guidance from Purdue alumni who had expertise in defense and space industry."

Through Purdue Innovates, Purdue is able to provide an environment for startups to "thrive," according to the university.

More: Tech Startup Targets Missile Motors as Silicon Valley Moves Into Weapons

“As Purdue rose to world leadership in patents and startups, it was inevitable that great successes like Adranos would follow,” said Mitch Daniels, board chair of Purdue Research Foundation and former Purdue University President in the release. “We’re enormously proud not only from a business standpoint but also of the contribution this Purdue innovation will make to the security of our nation.

Adranos broke ground on a rocket fuel production facility in 2020 at the Purdue Research Park, according to Purdue. The company received financial support form PRF and the Indiana Economic Development Corp. to construct its facility which opened in West Lafayette in September 2022.

"(Adranos) is an excellent example of Purdue intellectual property making its way out of the lab, into a startup, and making a real-world impact in this program," said Brooke Beier, senior vice president of Purdue Innovates, in the release. “This demonstrates the entrepreneurial nature of our Boilermaker students. A PhD student participated in components of what now make up Purdue Innovates, located their company in Purdue Research Park and now has a successful exit. From start to finish, Adranos demonstrates the success of the services and principles that constitute the Purdue Research Foundation."

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Purdue start-up Adranos, maker of rocket fuel, is bought by Anduril