The next generation of unmanned military drones may be made in central Ohio.
Anduril Industries announced Jan. 16 that it picked Columbus, Ohio, as the site of Arsenal-1, its "hyperscale manufacturing facility" that represents a nearly $1 billion project covering 5 million square feet that will eventually employ 4,000.
"Arsenal-1 will redefine the scale and speed that autonomous systems and weapons can be produced for the United States and its allies and partners," the company said in its announcement.
Anduril is based in Costa Mesa, Calif., and has eight offices and other sites throughout the U.S., United Kingdom and Australia. It has in-house capabilities in carbon-fiber composites and 3D printing as well as software and engineering. It has not said specifically what processes will be incorporated at Arsenal-1, but it did state it will be "a manufacturing facility that utilizes a common set of commercial manufacturing tooling, machinery and processes for every type of autonomous vehicle that Anduril produces."
That would cover surveillance drones, submersibles, controls, surveillance systems and unmanned aircraft big enough to carry a 33-pound warhead.