Anduril Raises $2.5B, Plans Major Ohio Expansion

Anduril Industries, a defense technology startup founded by Palmer Luckey, has raised $2.5 billion in a Series G funding round led by Peter Thiel's Founders Fund, bringing its valuation to $30.5 billion. This round, which was oversubscribed and included other major investors, marks the largest investment in Founders Fund's history. Anduril plans to use the capital to expand manufacturing, notably through its Arsenal-1 factory in Ohio, which is expected to create thousands of jobs and produce tens of thousands of defense systems each year. The company develops autonomous drones, augmented reality helmets, and AI-powered software for military use, and has secured recent contracts like the U.S. Army's AR/VR headset program as well as partnerships with Meta and Palantir. Investor interest in Anduril reflects the growing significance of advanced defense technology in modern conflicts, including the Ukraine war. The company positions itself as a challenger to traditional defense contractors through rapid scaling and technological innovation.