Anduril Builds $6.6B Shipyard at Baltimore Tradepoint Atlantic

Anduril Industries is developing a $6.6 billion shipbuilding facility at Tradepoint Atlantic in Sparrows Point, Baltimore County, Maryland, to produce components for Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines with partial US Navy funding and private investment.

The Arsenal-2 project will receive $2.9 billion from the Navy and $3.7 billion in private funding, according to the Guardian and Baird Maritime. The 187-acre facility is planned to include more than two million square feet of production space and a 1,200-foot graving dock.

Anduril said the factory is expected to begin producing ship components in 2030. The company will supply large assemblies and parts to General Dynamics Electric Boat and Newport News Shipbuilding for final submarine assembly, according to Baird Maritime.

US Wind transferred its lease at the Sparrows Point site to Anduril, ending plans to manufacture offshore wind turbine foundations there. US Wind CEO Jeff Grybowski said the decision followed delays affecting offshore wind projects.

"Our offshore wind plans, like many other similar projects in the US, are delayed due to legal disputes and uncertainty created by federal agencies. So, we are shifting our focus to helping Anduril build a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility at Sparrows Point," said Jeff Grybowski, US Wind CEO.

Anduril founder Palmer Luckey was praised by President Donald Trump during the announcement event, while the company prepares to enter a specialized submarine manufacturing sector where it has not previously been known as a major supplier.

"a friend of mine" and "a brilliant guy" were descriptions Trump used for Palmer Luckey, according to the Guardian.

Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao described the project as a new cooperation between the Navy and Anduril. He highlighted the company's planned role despite its limited history in crewed submarine construction.

"Anduril will be making these systems for you!" said Hung Cao, acting Navy secretary.

Cao also said the partnership would reduce barriers in defense production and referred to artificial intelligence as "super intelligence" during the event.

"Piss us off [and] we’ll sneak into your country in the middle of the night and snatch you and your wife while you sleep in your beds." said Hung Cao, acting Navy secretary.

Anduril is also integrating manufacturing inspection technology from Gecko Robotics into Arsenal-2 and its California protofactory. Gecko's systems use robots, sensors and AI software to inspect critical infrastructure and support quality control.

"We’ve been in Virginia-class subs in many different environments; one is…the naval reactors that go into Virginia-class and Columbia-class [submarines] or Ford-class carriers," said Troy Demmer, Gecko co-founder and president.

Demmer said Gecko's experience with naval programs helped position the company for the Arsenal-2 partnership, where inspection data will connect manufacturing and maintenance processes.

"Gecko is uniquely positioned to create this thread that connects from the earliest manufacturing [stages] through the operational life cycle." said Troy Demmer, Gecko co-founder and president.

"Gecko specifically is helping define key aspects and functionality of [ArsenalOS] via what we do, so the workflow we create is this virtual cycle between assessing the material condition of these very critical components and modules, and creating a feedback mechanism to whatever is creating them," said Troy Demmer, Gecko co-founder and president.

Gecko's inspection technology has previously been used in naval programs, including work involving nuclear-powered vessels. Anduril said Arsenal-2 will use software-driven manufacturing systems as part of its planned operations.

"If you went to the Orange County facility, what you’d see is robots, integrated sensors, and both welding and inspection working in unison to be able to not just construct these components, but also verify and authenticate the condition of them [and ensure] it meets the Navy’s standard," said Troy Demmer, Gecko co-founder and president.