Anduril, the defense tech company co-founded by Palmer Luckey, is planning to build its first major manufacturing plant, a massive 5-million-square-foot facility known as "Arsenal-1," in either Arizona, Ohio, or Texas. The company, which is developing autonomous drones, planes, and submarines, announced a $1.5 billion funding round in September at a $14 billion post-money valuation.

The new facility, which will employ "thousands of people" and produce "tens of thousands of autonomous military systems annually," is part of Anduril's plan to revolutionize the defense tech industry with faster, cheaper, and more agile manufacturing capabilities. The company is currently manufacturing its systems in Georgia, Mississippi, Rhode Island, and Australia, but wants Arsenal-1 to be a prototype for a software-defined factory that can rapidly increase production.

Anduril's plans are significant not only for the defense tech industry but also for the startup ecosystem, as the company is pushing the boundaries of what's possible with autonomous systems and manufacturing. The company's win of a US Air Force contract to develop and test small unmanned fighter jets earlier this year is a testament to its innovative approach. With investors like Founders Fund, Sands Capital, Fidelity Management & Research Company, and Baillie Gifford backing its vision, Anduril is poised to make a major impact in the years to come.