Defense contractor Anduril and chipmaker Qualcomm announced a partnership on Tuesday to develop a laptop built entirely within the United States. The company stated that the device, known as the BlueChip laptop, will meet the 65 percent domestic content threshold required by the Buy American Act when it launches in 2027.
This commitment marks a shift from earlier statements made by Anduril founder Palmer Luckey. During a press call on Monday, Luckey described the domestic content percentage as “to be determined,” noting that the current prototype contains only 32 percent US-origin components by procurement cost. He emphasized that the final supply chain would depend on the availability of US-based manufacturing for memory, displays, and other critical parts.
Meeting the Buy American Act Threshold
The Buy American Act, originally passed in 1933 and updated during the Biden administration, requires that at least 65 percent of a product’s cost be domestic for federal agencies to purchase it without a waiver. This threshold is scheduled to rise to 75 percent in 2029. Anduril communications VP Shannon Prior clarified in a statement that the company is correcting a previous response that suggested the laptop would fall short of the 65 percent mark.
“Our previous response to The Verge was incorrect. The BlueChip laptop is indeed being developed to exceed the 65% U.S. domestic-content threshold at launch in 2027,” Prior wrote. “Meeting that threshold is a fundamental objective of the program.”
Anduril spokesperson Stephanie Davis added that while the precise final percentage is still being determined as suppliers are finalized, the company is working to eliminate foreign content. The current prototype sources more than 90 percent of its components from the United States and allied countries combined.
Building a Domestic Supply Chain
Anduril and Qualcomm outlined a technical roadmap to eventually reach 100 percent domestic production. The partnership aims to establish a fully domestic supply chain for computer components, a sector where no major US company currently assembles its devices entirely in the United States.
Luckey stated that the company has already identified US partners for several key components. The laptop will use cover glass and frames from US manufacturers, and the enclosure is designed for US machining. Anduril is also developing batteries and programming field-programmable gate arrays to replace components that are difficult to source outside of China.
Qualcomm president and CEO Cristiano Amon confirmed that the laptop will use a Snapdragon processor. He noted that TSMC is building a manufacturing facility in Arizona where these chips will be produced. Luckey described the effort as an attempt to create an “all-American play” that goes beyond the minimum legal requirements of the Buy American Act.
Government agencies currently rely on waivers to purchase foreign-made computers. Luckey argued that these waivers are used extensively and that the new laptop could help agencies comply with procurement laws without needing exceptions. The company plans to share more details about the supply chain and supplier finalization next year.
Source: The Verge
