Anduril Industries, a prominent defense tech firm, publicly announced, earlier this year, its plan to build Arsenal-1, a five-million-square-foot advanced weapons manufacturing facility in Pickaway County, Ohio, near Rickenbacker International Airport. This initiative, originally and secretly codenamed "Project Thor," has been promoted by Governor Mike DeWine as the biggest job-creation and payroll project in the state’s history. They’re promising 4,000 direct jobs by 2035, 4,500 more indirectly, a $1 billion boost to Ohio’s GDP, and $2 billion in annual economic output. Anduril claims Arsenal-1 will "rebuild the arsenal" of U.S. military might by "hyperscaling" production of autonomous systems and weaponry, like advanced drones.

But beneath all that patriotic promotion and economic optimism, Project Thor is tangled in controversy. Since 2023, Madison Township residents have pushed back strongly, primarily due to the Rickenbacker Airport’s expansion and questionable rezoning actions. To make matters more complicated, there are zoning and land ownership questions surrounding the very land Arsenal-1 would occupy—specifically parcels like F1600010005900 and F1600010000701. The project was wrapped in secrecy from the start, with NDAs and code names circulating between public officials. The Pickaway County Commissioners even held a closed-door session on November 26, 2024, to discuss it.

Anduril, based in Costa Mesa, California, brands itself as a disruptor in defense tech. Their mission involves mass-producing AI-powered weapons like the Fury, Roadrunner, and Barracuda drones—some of which include cruise missile capabilities. Arsenal-1 is designed to produce tens of thousands of these systems annually. The location near Rickenbacker is strategic: direct runway access enables testing and rapid deployment.

Ohio’s leadership is promoting the project heavily. Governor DeWine and JobsOhio have framed it as a historic opportunity. To make it happen, Ohio is providing a substantial amount of public funding: $452 million in tax credits, $70 million from the All Ohio Future Fund, and undisclosed additional funding from JobsOhio. That’s before factoring in the 15-year, 100% tax abatement. CT Realty and the Pickaway County Port Authority are helping guide this process, requesting $50 million in grants and $20 million in loans. That loan is to be repaid with JEDD funds and backed by Arsenal-1’s projected revenue and local tax increment financing (TIF).

Watchdog groups and local critics have raised serious concerns. One analysis pointed out how Governor DeWine failed to mention the $538 million in public money supporting the project. JobsOhio, the so-called private nonprofit funded by state liquor profits, operates outside of public records laws and withholds deal details until finalized. This structure may be marketed as a "competitive advantage," but many see it as a lack of transparency.

Here's a breakdown of the public financial support for Arsenal-1:

Table: Public Financial Incentives for Anduril's Arsenal-1

• Job Creation Tax Credit: $452,263,789 (Approved)

• All Ohio Future Fund: $70,000,000 ($50M grant + $20M loan, Approved)

• JobsOhio Grants: Amount undisclosed (Planned)

• Tax Abatement: 15-year, 100% (Approved)

This adds up to more than half a billion in public support for a private defense company. Critics question whether this investment will truly deliver value for taxpayers.

The site’s proximity to Rickenbacker Airport connects it to a larger industrial development effort—the Rickenbacker Business Development District. Residents have been resisting this expansion since 2023, showing up at public hearings to oppose rezoning farmland for industrial use. They’re concerned about constant aircraft noise, increased pollution, and unchecked development.

Core5 Industrial Partners LLC has also attempted to rezone 118 acres of nearby rural land for industrial development. Their timing, coinciding with the Anduril announcement, has fueled speculation about a broader development strategy that hasn’t been publicly disclosed. A public hearing for Core5’s application was held on February 4, 2025.

This is not an isolated case. The developments represent a domino effect—each one contributing to the industrial transformation of Pickaway County. Anduril’s facility, Core5’s rezoning efforts, and Norfolk Southern’s rail yard expansion are all part of the same pattern. Residents are concerned about the rapid and sweeping changes to their community.

At the heart of the debate is the Arsenal-1 site. Official documents claimed 403 of 528 acres were zoned for industrial use, but about 120 acres weren’t. Parcels F1600010005400 and F1600010005500 remain zoned as Rural Residential. That discrepancy—nearly a quarter of the project’s footprint—raises serious questions. Some of these parcels were sold to W-CTR Scarbrough Land Holdings for millions, and other ownership records remain unclear. It’s a situation that appears rushed and poorly documented.

Even Madison Township’s zoning authority is unclear. One source claims the township doesn’t handle zoning—that’s up to Franklin County. But other township materials say they do have zoning inspectors, a zoning commission, and issue permits. This confusion over jurisdiction could lead to oversight failures and planning issues.

Here’s another table to illustrate the zoning issues:

Table: Arsenal-1 Site Zoning Discrepancies

• F1600010005400: Claimed RBD, actually not zoned industrial

• F1600010005500: Same as above

• F1600010005900: Rural Residential, sold July 2023 for $1.97M to W-CTR Scarbrough

• F1600010000701: Zoning not listed, sold July 2024 for $3.03M

This shows that zoning approvals may not be as secure as claimed, and legal challenges could cause delays.

As for how "Project Thor" came to light? It wasn’t through official channels. Our very own journalist Jason Salley obtained emails showing the code name was in use months before the public announcement. Communications were intentionally kept vague, relying on NDAs and private discussions.

Ohio law permits closed-door sessions for trade secrets, and that’s how this was handled. Still, the ethics of such secrecy are up for debate. NDAs signed by public officials—especially when tied to large public expenditures—raise legitimate concerns. In some states, officials have refused to sign NDAs or later regretted doing so. Even if it’s legal, it can undermine public trust.

Ohio Ethics Law forbids public officials from using confidential information for personal gain. Still, distinguishing between protecting trade secrets and avoiding accountability is difficult when the financial stakes are so high.

Environmental concerns are also mounting. Arsenal-1 will require immense infrastructure: 17.1 million gallons of water per day, 28.5 million gallons of wastewater capacity, 40 megawatts of electricity, and hundreds of millions of cubic feet of gas. The project timeline—set to begin production by July 2026—has prompted concerns about rushed construction and stress on local systems.

Environmental studies have already identified wetlands and waterways on the property. Depending on federal rulings, Anduril could need a series of permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Ohio EPA. The public has seen little evidence of those permits being secured.

And beyond the logistics is a more profound question: Arsenal-1’s mission is the mass production of AI-powered weapons. This includes autonomous drones capable of lethal operations without human input. Several news outlets including this one have raised ethical alarms. Relying on machines to make life-or-death decisions changes the nature of warfare, potentially making it easier to enter conflict and harder to ensure accountability. Anduril’s partnership with OpenAI to develop counter-drone AI systems further intensifies the stakes.

The real issue is an AI-powered weapons industry built with public funds, with minimal transparency, and deployed in rural Ohio.

Ultimately, Arsenal-1 is more than just a factory—it’s a case study. It raises the question: Are economic development and job creation worth the price of diminished transparency, ethical concerns, and irreversible community change? Pickaway County may well be the testing ground for a new chapter in the military-industrial story, one built on automation, secrecy, and public investment.