Anduril Scales Production with $1 Billion Manufacturing Campus in Long Beach
Long Beach, Sunday, 25 January 2026.
Defense unicorn Anduril commits over $1 billion to a new Long Beach manufacturing hub, promising 5,500 jobs and revitalizing the region’s aerospace heritage with advanced autonomous technology.
A Historic Investment in Defense Manufacturing
In a move that solidifies Southern California’s standing as a premier hub for aerospace innovation, Anduril Industries has formally announced plans to construct a massive new manufacturing and research campus in Long Beach. As of mid-January 2026, the defense technology company confirmed it will invest over $1 billion to develop the site, which is projected to create approximately 5,500 new jobs for the region [1][4]. The expansion centers on Douglas Park, a location steeped in aviation history as the former production site for the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III [2]. This development represents the largest private investment in the city’s history, signaling a pivotal shift from legacy aerospace manufacturing to next-generation autonomous systems [4].
Strategic Infrastructure and Capacity
The ambitious project will see the construction of a campus spanning approximately 1.18 million square feet (roughly 109,620 square meters) across six buildings [1][2]. The facility is designed to support rapid scaling, dedicating 435,000 square feet specifically to industrial research and development, while 750,000 square feet will be allocated for office space [2]. Construction is slated to begin in 2026, with the campus expected to be fully operational by mid-2027 [1][2]. The site’s geographic positioning is highly calculated; it sits just 30 minutes from Anduril’s headquarters in Costa Mesa and 90 minutes from its test site in Capistrano, facilitating a streamlined feedback loop between design, engineering, and testing teams [2].
Economic Impact and Workforce Development
Local officials have hailed the expansion as a major economic victory. Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson characterized the deal as a “powerful vote of confidence” in the city’s industrial foundation, noting that the influx of 5,500 high-quality jobs directly supports the city’s “Acceler8 by ’28” initiative, which aims to create 8,000 new permanent jobs by 2028 [4]. To sustain this workforce, Anduril has committed to partnerships with local educational institutions, including the Long Beach Unified School District, Long Beach City College, and California State University, Long Beach, to foster the next generation of engineering talent [3].
Market Position and Recent Growth
This infrastructure expansion follows a period of aggressive growth for Anduril, which was valued at $30.5 billion as of June 2025 [2]. The company, co-founded by Palmer Luckey in 2017, continues to secure high-profile defense contracts that necessitate increased production capacity [2]. On January 1, 2026, Anduril was awarded a $23.9 million contract to deliver over 600 weaponized drones to the U.S. Marine Corps [1]. Furthermore, in December 2025, Boeing selected Anduril to manufacture rocket motors for the U.S. Army’s Integrated Fires Protection Capability system, further cementing the company’s role within the broader defense industrial base [2].
Summary
Anduril Industries’ $1 billion investment in Long Beach marks a significant milestone in the modernization of the American defense supply chain. By revitalizing a historic aerospace site with a 1.18 million square-foot campus and creating 5,500 jobs, the company is not only expanding its own production capabilities but also reinforcing Southern California’s ecosystem for advanced manufacturing [2][3]. With construction commencing in 2026 and operations targeted for 2027, this development underscores the rapid scaling of autonomous defense technologies in response to evolving global security needs [1][4].