US company announces new Arsenal-1 factory to boost production of weapons

US defence technology company Anduril Industries is set to significantly expand its production capabilities with the upcoming launch of its new factory, Arsenal-1, which will be located in the US, this ambitious project, representing a major investment of "hundreds of millions" of dollars, aims to enhance Anduril's ability to produce autonomous weapons and other defense systems on a large scale.

Defense startup Anduril Industries announced plans to open a new factory, named "Arsenal," which a senior company official said will significantly increase its production of autonomous weapons, Caliber.Az reports citing the foreign media.

The facility will focus on systems that can be quickly and efficiently manufactured at scale.

Chief Strategy Officer Chris Brose explained that Anduril will not concentrate on creating high-end, specialized weapon systems. Instead, the company will prioritize developing supplementary capabilities, particularly autonomous systems and weapons of various types, that can be rapidly deployed.

Anduril has secured approximately $1.5 billion to support this factory initiative. The new facility will be software-defined, allowing for the establishment of common interfaces and standards across different systems, facilitating easier adaptation and integration. Brose also highlighted the company's goal to streamline manufacturing processes to attract more workers.

Anduril Industries is currently evaluating sites for its new factory, named Arsenal-1, which will be located in the United States. This facility represents an investment of "hundreds of millions" of dollars and will feature over five million square feet of production space, employing thousands of workers, according to a press release. The company envisions that Arsenal-1 will be eventually followed by an Arsenal-2, which could be situated either in the U.S. or at an allied or partner location, such as Australia where Anduril has expanded.

Chief Strategy Officer Chris Brose explained that Arsenal-1 will centralize the manufacturing of all Anduril products “under one roof,” with the exception of energetics due to their specialized production requirements. This approach aims to streamline operations, contrasting with traditional methods that distribute manufacturing across various locations to gain political favor.

Brose emphasized that the Arsenal facility must be capable of producing tens of thousands of large systems, including those for the Air Force's Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program and large undersea drones for the Navy. He noted that while distributing manufacturing can offer political advantages, the benefits of consolidation in terms of efficiency and effectiveness far outweigh those benefits.