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Anduril , the defense tech company co - founded by Palmer Luckey , is considering building its first major manufacturing plant , a 5 - million - square - base facility known as “ Arsenal-1 , ” in Arizona , Ohio , or Texas , according to someone conversant with the matter .
The company , which is developing self-governing drones , plane , and wedge , had declare $ 1.5 billion at a $ 14 billion post - money rating in September .
In conjunction with that round , Andurilannounced it plansto use the impudent capital for fabrication , investing “ hundreds of millions ” to grow its Arsenal-1 readiness . It also said it would use the money for employ and promised that the facility will apply “ thousands of multitude ” and be adequate to of producing “ tens of M of independent military systems annually . ”
When TechCrunch asked an Anduril interpreter if the caller was now choosing between these three fix for its manufacturing plant , she responded , “ That is incorrect ” but would not define what exactly was faulty .
originally this yr , theU.S. Air Force chose Andurilto develop and try small remote-controlled fighter aircraft jets . The fellowship beat out Boeing , Lockheed Martin , and Northrop Grumman for the deal , a significant win for the 7 - year - erstwhile VC - indorse business . ( A surveillance aircraft company , General Atomics , was also selected as an awardee to modernize the Air Force fleet . )
Anduril is currently manufacture its system in Georgia , Mississippi , Rhode Island , and Australia , according to its web site . While these fix are providing the companionship with “ significant manufacturing capacity , ” Anduril wants the new facility to become a prototype of a quicker , cheaper , software - specify manufacturing plant for building weapons , one that is capable to increase production rapidly and agilely .
This is in dividing line to the kind of distinctive bespoke defence and aerospace contractile organ fabrication today , which take a leak each part pricey to change . Anduril is not the only VC - backed defense technical school company working on the manufacturing part of the trouble . As TechCrunch antecedently reported , a group of former Anduril engineer launch a startup call Salient Motion to do thisfor the aerospace industry and was promptly sued by Anduril . The suit has since been settled . Others , like Ursa Major , areworking on making rocket salad motors through 3D printing .
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Although Anduril ’s headquarters are in Costa Mesa , California , and will continue there , our source says , the majority of the company ’s staff will likely be based at Arsenal-1 . Arizona , Texas , and Ohio are all fair vernacular horse sense potential choices , as all are State Department where defense force contractors and other type of manufacturing quickness burst .
Investors in Anduril ’s last round include Founders Fund , Sands Capital , Fidelity Management & Research Company , and Baillie Gifford .
