Anduril announced Thursday that it will build a major campus in Long Beach, Southern California, where founder Palmer Luckey grew up.
At a Glance
- The new campus will create 5,500 new jobs.
- It will cover 1.18 million square feet across six buildings.
- The facility is slated to open by mid-2027.
Why it matters: The expansion signals Anduril’s push to become a global manufacturer of autonomous military aircraft, while boosting the local economy.
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Expanding Footprint in Southern California
Anduril’s headquarters is in nearby Costa Mesa, and the company also operates a large manufacturing plant in Ohio. The Long Beach campus will combine office space with industrial areas dedicated to research and development. Luckey told News Of Philadelphia that the new jobs are not transfers from other locations.
Job Creation and Workforce Composition
The company plans to hire workers similar to those at its headquarters:
- Manufacturing and assembly technicians
- Engineers across electrical, mechanical, and aerodynamics disciplines
- Build-and-test specialists
- Logistics personnel to ship products worldwide
Luckey emphasized that the workforce would be “a lot of people on the logistics side, because the things that we’re going to be making there, we’re going to be sending all over the world.”
Strategic Importance of Long Beach
Long Beach is described by Luckey as a “major aerospace hub right in our backyard.” The location offers proximity to existing defense contractors, a skilled labor pool, and access to the Pacific shipping lanes.
Future of Autonomous Fighter Jets
One of the most exciting aspects for Luckey is the production of autonomous fighter jets. He said:
> “It looks like we’re going to be able to manufacture autonomous fighter jets that will take off right from the factory and fly to wherever the customer needs them. We might have jets leaving the factory, flying directly into combat. And I think that that is extremely cool.”
These jets, known as the Fury, were unveiled in 2025 and completed their first test flight in California on October 31. The Long Beach facility will enable on-site manufacturing and rapid deployment.
Timeline and Development Milestones
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Fury fighter jet unveiled |
| October 31, 2025 | Fury’s first test flight in California |
| October 13-15, 2026 | Company event in San Francisco |
| mid-2027 | Long Beach campus operational |
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Key Takeaways
- Anduril’s Long Beach campus will add 5,500 new jobs and cover 1.18 million square feet.
- The facility is expected to open by mid-2027.
- The expansion supports Anduril’s goal to produce autonomous fighter jets that can leave the factory and fly directly into combat.
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Source: Daniel J. Whitman reporting for News Of Philadelphia.
