Ohio in running for Anduril's groundbreaking defense manufacturing facility - report
Image: Anduril
In a major development first reported by TechCrunch's Marina Temkin, defense technology company Anduril is reportedly considering Ohio as one of three potential locations for its ambitious new manufacturing facility. According to TechCrunch, the company is evaluating sites in Ohio, Arizona, and Texas for what would be its first major manufacturing plant.
About the potential facility
The planned facility, dubbed "Arsenal-1," would span an impressive 5 million square feet. As reported by TechCrunch, Anduril, co-founded by Palmer Luckey, recently secured $1.5 billion in funding at a $14 billion post-money valuation.
The tech news outlet notes that the company has earmarked "hundreds of millions" of this funding for the Arsenal-1 facility, which aims to revolutionize defense manufacturing with a software-defined approach that enables rapid, adaptable production of autonomous military systems.
About Anduril
The company's innovative manufacturing vision stands in contrast to traditional defense contractor facilities. Arsenal-1 is being designed to produce "tens of thousands of autonomous military systems annually," including drones, planes, and submarines, with the flexibility to quickly adjust production as needed.
According to TechCrunch's sources, while Anduril currently maintains manufacturing operations in Georgia, Mississippi, Rhode Island, and Australia, Arsenal-1 would represent a major expansion of its capabilities. The facility would likely become home to the majority of the company's workforce, though the company's headquarters will remain in Costa Mesa, California.
Earlier this year, Anduril won a prestigious U.S. Air Force contract to develop and test small unmanned fighter jets, outcompeting industry giants like Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman.
What this means for Ohio
For Ohio, landing this facility would represent a major win for the state's growing technology and manufacturing sectors. The state's strong manufacturing heritage, existing defense contractor presence, and skilled workforce make it a compelling candidate for Anduril's ambitious plans.
From Wright-Patterson Air Force Base to NASA Glenn Research Center, Ohio is the proud home of federal and military installations across the state that contribute nearly $40 billion to the overall economy, according to JobsOhio.