KEY POINTS
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Anduril Industries is building a 5-million-square-foot military drone manufacturing facility near Columbus, Ohio, supported by a $310 million JobsOhio grant.
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The Arsenal-1 project will create over 4,000 new jobs and generate over $530 million in new payroll.
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As Ohio’s largest single, direct-job-creation project, it surpasses Intel’s recent investments and offers significant opportunities for economic development.
Defense technology firm Anduril Industries secured a record-breaking $310 million grant from JobsOhio to construct an advanced manufacturing facility south of Columbus.
The project, dubbed Arsenal-1, will be one of the largest of its kind in the nation. The facility will serve as a national hub for designing, manufacturing, and testing next-generation military drones and autonomous systems.
The facility is expected to spur further economic development, with thousands of indirect jobs projected in supporting industries and services.
Project Overview
Purpose: Manufacturing facility of military drones and autonomous air vehicles
Location: 500 acres near Rickenbacker International Airport, Pickaway County, Ohio
Facility Size: 5 million square feet
Scheduled Opening: July 2026 (initial production), with full staffing expected by 2035
“Designed by Anduril and built in Ohio, Arsenal-1 will hyperscale modern defense manufacturing while driving massive economic growth across the state.” Anduril Industries
A rendering of the Anduril Industries Arsenal-1 manufacturing facility that will produce military drones and autonomous air vehicles in Pickaway County, Ohio. Image: Anduril Industries
Anduril CEO Brian Schimpf said on its website, “Arsenal-1 represents a step forward in how we manufacture the autonomous systems and weapons that our nation and our allies need to remain secure.”
Anduril officials said the economic impact on the workforce will be substantial. The company expects “8,500 jobs from suppliers, construction, and other sectors to support the growth and sustainment of Arsenal-1.”
Anduril, which is receiving state and local support for the project, has committed to:
- Creating 4,008 new jobs over the next decade
- Investing at least $910 million in capital expenditures
- Generating more than $530 million in new payroll
- Maintaining these targets for 30 years to retain grant and incentive eligibility
A project on the scale and complexity of Arsenal-1 requires collaboration across multiple construction trades and specialties. The first phase of the commercial construction project is already underway, with the initial 775,000-square-foot building expected to be completed in 2025, according to Anduril officials.
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