New Ohio weapons plant to bring over 4,000 jobs

By Farah Siddiqi

A California-based defense technology company is promising more than 4,000 new jobs in Ohio.

Anduril Industries plans to open a massive drone and weapons manufacturing facility near Rickenbacker International Airport in Columbus. Company founder Palmer Luckey said the facility, called Arsenal-1, will focus on cutting-edge military systems for the United States and allied nations.

"It's going to be about a 5 million-square-foot facility," he said. "We're investing almost $1 billion of our own capital into building it out."

JobsOhio is awarding Anduril a record $310 million grant, more than what was given to either Intel or Honda. The company must meet hiring and investment targets to receive the full amount.

Community activists and ethicists have voiced concern over the plant’s public funding, its rezoning process, and its focus on AI-powered weaponry.

Luckey said Arsenal-1 is on a fast track, with construction already underway and hiring in progress.

"It's the largest single job creation event in Ohio history, over 4,000 direct jobs and many, many more indirect jobs," he said. "We're standing up as fast as we can because it is on a critical path – even servicing contracts we already have."

Once operational, Arsenal-1 is expected to manufacture autonomous fighter jets, cruise missiles and other weapons systems. Anduril said it expects full production by 2035, with average annual salaries topping $132,000.