New Maryland defence shipyard gets US$6.6bil commitment

At a ceremony in Sparrows Point, Maryland, President Donald Trump announced a US$3.7 billion shipyard project by defense tech firm Anduril. The new facility, expected to create 3,100 jobs, will specialize in producing components for the Navy's Virginia-class submarines, including torpedo tubes. This $6.6 billion investment, valued together with an associated contract, is part of a broader effort by the US and its allies to boost arms production following Russia's invasion of Ukraine and conflicts in the Middle East.

Maryland and Baltimore County have pledged to match up to 13% of the total investment, approximately US$481 million. The president expressed his commitment to boosting jobs and manufacturing, highlighting the potential for the plant, dubbed Arsenal-2, to be operational by the end of the decade. Anduril, known for its autonomous systems and drones, is building another facility in California and plans to expand into producing larger submarine modules and hull sections once the Baltimore shipyard is operational.