State records offer glimpse into Anduril's employment, site plans in Ohio

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- State and county records offer new details about Anduril's $1 billion drone manufacturing plant in Pickaway County.

Anduril is moving on an ambitious timeline for it's Ohio project, Arsenal-1. The California-based defense systems company hopes to start building drones and other weapons near Rickenbacker Airport in July 2026, so it wants to speed along construction. Permit applications with state and local governments provide a clearer picture of what Arsenal-1 will look like, and how jobs will be created.

According to state permit applications, Anduril hopes to eventually build five warehouse buildings and two operational buildings on the site. It will also have parking lots, loading dock areas, access roads and retention ponds, according to the permits. See previous coverage of Anduril in Ohio in the video player above.

According to reports from the Pickaway County Board of Commissioners, Anduril is storing machinery, equipment and other assets at another location in Ohio as it prepares to build near Rickenbaker Airport. In state permit applications, Anduril said it had hoped to begin construction by Aug. 1, but it has not yet announced a groundbreaking.

Anduril will spend $910 million on construction, according to county agreements. The site has access to Rickenbacker Airport and major highways. State permit filings show the Norfolk Southern Railway Corporation also hopes to build a new railway near the site. Rail access would provide even more connection for Anduril, but Norfolk Southern's permits do not directly reference the defense company.

“We felt confident in making a committed bet on Ohio, the Columbus region and the team in Pickaway that we had a core set of partners that we’re going to run as fast as we needed to run,” Zachary Mears, senior vice president of strategy at Anduril, said in Columbus last week.

Anduril has promised to create 4,008 full-time jobs at the facility, marking the largest single job creation investment in Ohio's history. In June, the Pickaway County Commissioners unanimously approved a tax credit for Anduril and included additional requirements to make sure the company is fulfilling its job creation promises. The tax credit offers property tax breaks for the company, but includes clauses to ensure local school districts are still receiving funding.

According to the tax agreement, Anduril must create at least one job that pays $50,000 or more for every 5,000 square feet of space it builds. Anduril plans to build a 5-million-square-foot campus, so it will have to employ at least 1,000 employees that make at least $50,000 per year.

Beginning in 2028, Anduril will also have to have an annual Ohio payroll of at least $67 million, but the company said it expects to have an annual payroll of more than $530 million. Anduril will also have to have an average hourly salary of at least $21.75 for its Ohio workers, more than twice the state's minimum wage. Both numbers will be adjusted for inflation, according to the agreement.

Anduril is actively hiring for roles in Columbus, but as of June 24 it did not employ any full time employees in Ohio. According to tax credit agreements, the company has agreed to employ at least 301 full time employees by the end of 2026.

Some Ohioans have voiced concerns about new developments after uncertainty surrounding the Intel plant in New Albany. Intel was previously the largest job creation site in Ohio before Anduril announced its investment. However, Intel's delays stem from financial concerns and a need for new customers. Anduril contracts with the federal government, and has received more than $31 million in government contracts in the past six months, so it's financial position appears more secure.

According to state permit records, Anduril hopes to finish construction on its first facility by March 31.