Anduril Industries to Build $2.1B Defense Manufacturing Facility in Ohio

By Joseph Provence, a news contributor who writes about technology, small business, SEO, and e-commerce.

Jan 19,2025 1:59 PM MST

Defense technology company Anduril Industries has announced plans to construct a massive manufacturing facility in Ohio, marking the largest single job creation event in the state's history. The facility, dubbed "Arsenal One," will create 4,000 direct jobs over the next decade and represents a $2.1 billion investment by the company.

Palmer Luckey, founder of Anduril, emphasized the urgency driving the aggressive timeline for the facility's construction, citing predictions that the United States could run out of munitions within eight days in a potential conflict with China. The facility aims to begin production by mid-2026, with initial manufacturing taking place on five acres before expanding to 500 acres.

The Ohio location was selected for several key advantages, including access to a skilled workforce, with one million potential workers within a 45-minute drive. The proximity to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, a major U.S. Air Force presence, also played a crucial role in the decision. The state provided hundreds of millions in incentives, though the exact figure was not disclosed.

Arsenal One will manufacture several key defense products, including the Fury autonomous fighter jet, the Barracuda family of autonomous swimming cruise missiles, ESR drones, mobile command and control systems, and combat heads-up displays. The facility's location at Rickenbacker Airport provides access to two runways, enabling direct delivery of products to customers or theaters of operation.


Luckey explicitly ruled out California as a potential location, citing high costs of living, expensive and unreliable energy systems, and regulatory uncertainty. He noted that Ohio's business-friendly environment and eagerness to attract manufacturing jobs made it an ideal choice. The presence of Intel's new semiconductor fabrication facility nearby was viewed as both a potential competition for talent and a valuable addition to the region's technology ecosystem.

The company, which reportedly doubled its revenue to about $1 billion last year, is also planning to eventually become publicly traded. Luckey expressed a desire to make investment in American defense companies more accessible to retail investors, though he indicated that an IPO would only come after the company proves its ability to deliver on its ambitious manufacturing goals.

Regarding the timeline pressures, Luckey acknowledged that competitors have called the aggressive schedule unreasonable but emphasized the critical nature of meeting these deadlines. "We don't have time for business as usual," he stated, referencing concerns about a potential "window of opportunity" for China in 2027.

The project's success relies heavily on coordination with local authorities for permitting, power and utilities, and logistics infrastructure. The facility will utilize rail, air, and road transportation to move materials and products efficiently. State and local officials have committed to expediting these processes to meet the ambitious timeline, with Ohio Governor Mike DeWine expressing strong confidence in Anduril's leadership team to deliver on their commitments.