Anduril launches hiring push to stand up Barracuda production in Ohio

Anduril Industries is moving its Barracuda autonomous air vehicle (AAV) program into production in Central Ohio, launching a regional hiring push to stand up its third active manufacturing line at the Arsenal-1 facility in Pickaway County.

The manufacturing push comes alongside a $5 billion Series H funding round that values the company at $61 billion—capital the company says will support continued investment in manufacturing capacity, research and development, and infrastructure.

The effort centers on building out a dedicated “Barracuda Ohio Launch Team” to transition the system from development into scaled manufacturing. The move comes shortly after the site became operational and reflects the company’s focus on accelerating production timelines for new systems.

Why it matters

Arsenal-1 is designed to compress the timeline between prototype and production—a persistent bottleneck in defense. Bringing a new system online this quickly offers an early signal of how Anduril intends to operate its Ohio footprint: rapid iteration paired with high-rate manufacturing.

Built in Ohio

Anduril’s expansion in Ashville builds on Ohio’s established strengths in aerospace and advanced manufacturing. The site’s proximity to Rickenbacker International Airport enables integrated testing and logistics, reinforcing Central Ohio’s position as a growing hub for defense production.

Ohio’s role in defense manufacturing is well established—from early aviation in Dayton to World War II-era production at scale. Anduril’s investment reflects a modern extension of that legacy, pairing software-driven systems with high-rate manufacturing.

“We’re continuing to invest in Ohio as a center for advanced manufacturing,” said Kevin Kerr, VP of Production, Ohio.

The Product

Barracuda is a family of air-breathing autonomous air vehicles designed for scalable, cost-efficient production and deployment. The system is engineered to simplify manufacturing and expand the workforce able to support it:

• 10 or fewer common tools are required for assembly.
• Heavy use of commercially available components.
• Multiple configurations based on range and payload requirements.

Hiring and timeline

The initial hiring phase focuses on technical and operational roles required to establish the production line at the Ashville complex.

• Roles include manufacturing engineering, operations management, production supervision, and test technicians.
• New hires will train in California before returning to Ohio.
• Production is targeted to come online by the end of the year.

Anduril has indicated that Barracuda production will scale to support future delivery commitments, with Ohio expected to play a central role.

What’s Next

• Expansion: A second manufacturing building, out of an expected seven total, is under construction to support additional production capacity.
• Workforce: Hiring is expected to continue in phases as production ramps.
• Long-term footprint: The broader Arsenal-1 campus is projected to support thousands of advanced manufacturing jobs over time.