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Anduril, the defense tech company co-founded by Palmer Luckey, is considering building its first major manufacturing plant, a 5-million-square-foot facility known as “Arsenal-1,” in Arizona, Ohio, or Texas. The company, known for developing autonomous drones, planes, and submarines, recently announced a significant investment of $1.5 billion at a $14 billion post-money valuation.
Expansion Plans and Partnerships
In conjunction with the recent funding round, Anduril revealed plans to use the capital for manufacturing, with a focus on developing the Arsenal-1 facility. The company also highlighted intentions to hire additional staff, with the facility projected to employ thousands of people and produce tens of thousands of autonomous military systems annually.
TechCrunch inquired about the location selection process for the new factory, to which an Anduril spokesperson vaguely responded, leaving room for speculation. Earlier this year, Anduril secured a contract with the U.S. Air Force to develop and test small unmanned fighter jets, surpassing major industry players like Boeing and Lockheed Martin.
Manufacturing Innovation
Anduril currently operates manufacturing facilities in various locations, but the new Arsenal-1 facility aims to revolutionize the production process by introducing a faster, more cost-effective, software-defined approach to building weapons. This contrasts with traditional defense and aerospace manufacturing methods, which are often rigid and costly to modify. Other VC-backed companies, like Salient Motion and Ursa Major, are also exploring innovative manufacturing techniques in the defense tech industry.
Headquartered in Costa Mesa, California, Anduril plans to base the majority of its staff at Arsenal-1, where investors such as Founders Fund, Sands Capital, and Baillie Gifford are supporting the company’s growth and expansion efforts. Arizona, Texas, and Ohio are logical choices for the new facility, given their existing infrastructure for defense contractors and manufacturing facilities.
