According to TechCrunch, defense technology company Anduril, co-founded by Palmer Luckey, is considering establishing its first significant manufacturing plant, named "Arsenal-1," in either Arizona, Ohio, or Texas. This development follows the company's announcement of securing $1.5 billion in funding at a $14 billion post-money valuation in September. The company intends to allocate a substantial portion of this capital towards the construction of the Arsenal-1 facility, with plans to invest "hundreds of millions" in its development.
The proposed facility is expected to employ "thousands of people" and produce "tens of thousands of autonomous military systems annually." However, when questioned by TechCrunch about the potential locations for the factory, an Anduril spokesperson stated that the information was "incorrect" but did not clarify further. Earlier this year, Anduril secured a contract with the U.S. Air Force to develop and test small unmanned fighter jets, surpassing competitors such as Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman. This contract marks a significant achievement for the seven-year-old venture capital-backed company.
Currently, Anduril manufactures its systems in Georgia, Mississippi, Rhode Island, and Australia, as per its website. While these locations provide considerable manufacturing capacity, the company aims for the new facility to serve as a prototype for a faster, more cost-effective, software-defined factory capable of rapidly scaling production. This approach contrasts with traditional defense and aerospace manufacturing, which often involves costly changes to bespoke parts.
Anduril is not alone in addressing manufacturing challenges in the defense tech sector. A group of former Anduril engineers launched a startup called Salient Motion to tackle similar issues in the aerospace industry, leading to a lawsuit from Anduril that has since been settled. Other companies, like Ursa Major, are exploring innovations such as 3D printing for rocket motors. Despite Anduril's headquarters remaining in Costa Mesa, California, the majority of its workforce is expected to be based at Arsenal-1. Arizona, Texas, and Ohio are considered logical choices for the facility due to their established presence of defense contractors and manufacturing infrastructure. Investors in Anduril's recent funding round include Founders Fund, Sands Capital, Fidelity Management & Research Company, and Baillie Gifford.