Anduril Industries’ latest expansion near the Mississippi Solid Rocket Complex is drawing harsh criticism from community activists and arms control advocates who say the move accelerates a dangerous militarization of domestic industry.
DUBLIN, Ireland — Anduril Industries, the defense startup synonymous with AI-driven warfare, has announced its acquisition of Irish IT firm Klas. The move, framed as an expansion of Anduril’s tactical computing capabilities, signals deeper entrenchment of autonomous defense operations—but critics warn of unchecked corporate control over military decision-making.
Defense technology startup Anduril Industries has just raised an eye-popping $2.5 billion in its Series G funding round, catapulting its valuation to an astounding $30.5 billion. This fresh infusion of capital—more than doubling its previous valuation of around $14 billion—has positioned the company as a formidable force in modern defense tech and military innovation.
In an era where battlefields are no longer physical spaces but digitized landscapes of AI-driven warfare, Anduril Industries and Meta are shaping what comes next. Their latest venture? A fusion of extended reality (XR) systems designed to turn soldiers into interface-bound combatants, wielding AI-enhanced perception and drone command capabilities like some dystopian fever dream made real.
COSTA MESA, CA — Anduril Industries has rapidly positioned itself as a trailblazer in defense technology, championing battlefield automation and AI-powered intelligence. Yet a deeper dive into its financial backers and leadership reveals a disturbing pattern: a company that appears less like an independent innovator and more like an extension of Peter Thiel’s controversial empire.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Defense technology firm Anduril Industries has secured a $14.3 million contract from the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to expand production of solid rocket motors (SRMs) — a critical component in missile propulsion. The contract, awarded under the Defense Production Act (DPA) Title III, aims to strengthen domestic missile manufacturing capabilities and reduce reliance on foreign suppliers.
Since its inception in 2017, Anduril Industries has redefined the possibilities of modern warfare, bringing science fiction closer to reality. By integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and autonomous technologies, the company aims to transform the defense industry, which has traditionally relied on slower innovation cycles. Co-founded by Palmer Luckey, the visionary behind Oculus VR, alongside a team of Silicon Valley entrepreneurs and engineers, Anduril combines technological ambition with military pragmatism. Its primary focus is on delivering AI-driven solutions that enhance battlefield capabilities and redefine the command and control landscape for the U.S. military and its allies.
The Military-Industrial-Nuclear Nexus in Ohio
The world stands at a critical juncture, where technology is fundamentally reshaping warfare. At the forefront is Anduril Industries, a "disruptor" that applies a Silicon Valley ethos to create increasingly autonomous weapons. This infographic exposes how Ohio has become a central hub for this dangerous convergence of AI-driven warfare, secretive corporate expansion, and a looming nuclear threat, demanding urgent attention from activist communities.
Founded in 2017 by Palmer Luckey after his controversial exit from Facebook, Anduril was supercharged by capital from Peter Thiel's Founders Fund. It applies a "move fast and break things" philosophy to defense, raising profound ethical questions about the automation of war.
The chart illustrates Anduril's meteoric rise, fueled by powerful political connections and private capital. This explosive growth underscores the immense financial power propelling the development of autonomous weapons systems.
Initially shrouded in secrecy as "Project Thor," Anduril's billion-dollar "Arsenal-1" facility in Pickaway County was exposed by investigative journalists. The project has been plagued by zoning controversies and is propped up by massive public subsidies.
Ohio taxpayers are funding a significant portion of this private enterprise through what critics call "corporate welfare," tethering the local economy to the volatile defense industry while private investors reap the rewards.
Anduril's products are designed for "affordable mass" and "hyper-scale production," lowering the economic and political barriers to conflict. At the heart is Lattice OS, an AI that creates a "God's-eye view" of the battlefield, pushing warfare towards a future where algorithms, not humans, may make life-or-death decisions.
| Product Name | Type | Primary Application / Danger |
|---|---|---|
| Lattice OS | AI Command & Control | Battlefield/border surveillance; enables autonomous decision-making; risk of human-out-of-the-loop warfare. |
| Fury (YFQ-44) | Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV) | Augments fighter jets for "affordable mass"; potential for autonomous combat; to be built in Ohio. |
| Barracuda-M | Cruise Missile | Low-cost, high-volume production lowers barrier to conflict escalation; long-range kinetic payloads. |
| Hypersonic Motors | Propulsion System | Fuels a dangerous new arms race; increases risk of miscalculation and escalation to the nuclear level. |
A dangerous supply chain is forming within Ohio, creating an integrated ecosystem for developing and deploying next-generation, potentially nuclear-capable, AI-driven weapons. This directly fuels the hypothesis of a new nuclear arms race, concentrating a profound threat within the state.
Piketon, OH
Produces High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU), a material closer to weapons-grade, amidst a legacy of contamination and proliferation risks.
Pickaway County, OH
Manufactures autonomous weapons like the Fury drone. HALEU could be integrated for propulsion or power systems.
Dayton, OH
Serves as the deployment and R&D hub. Finished weapons systems are transported here for testing and global deployment.
Centrus Energy produces HALEU, enriched up to 20% U-235. This is dangerously close to the 20% threshold for "weapons-usable" material and could be easily enriched further, posing a severe proliferation risk.
This chart compares enrichment levels, highlighting how HALEU bridges the gap between traditional reactor fuel and material suitable for nuclear weapons, all while being produced on a site with a toxic legacy.
Ohio's government actively enables this military expansion with incentives and partnerships, like the MOU between Gov. DeWine and Wright-Patterson AFB. The "revolving door"—where executives move between Anduril and high-level government posts—ensures corporate interests drive national security policy.
Future Threat: "Golden Dome"
Anduril is a frontrunner for Trump's proposed "Golden Dome" missile defense system, a project that could cost up to $831 billion, reviving a Cold War-era arms race in space.
The unchecked expansion of companies like Anduril, their integration with nuclear material production, and their deep ties to government represent a profound threat to peace, environmental health, and democracy. The time for action is now.
Insist on full disclosure of land deals, zoning, and financial agreements for projects like Arsenal-1.
Advocate to end massive public subsidies for war profiteers and redirect funds to community needs.
Raise public awareness about HALEU production, its proliferation risks, and its connection to weapons systems.