North Texas defense manufacturing startup UNION Technologies announced on Wednesday that it has expanded its seed funding round to $51.3 million, with a strategic investment from Nadrah Trading Company, a prominent Saudi industrial group with deep ties to the Kingdom's defense sector and its Vision 2030 modernization initiative.
The additional funding will accelerate deployment of UNION's autonomous robotics platform at its 220,000-square-foot headquarters and manufacturing facility in Carrollton, where the company claims to operate "the largest large-caliber shell forge in the United States". The startup, led by former Tesla and Anduril engineers, emerged from stealth in May with a mission to address critical ammunition shortages exposed by the war in Ukraine.
High-Profile Leadership Drives Defense Manufacturing Push
UNION's board includes former CIA Director and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, reflecting the company's emphasis on national security credentials and international partnerships. The startup initially raised $50 million from Chicago-based Bravo Victor Venture Capital, a national security-focused firm with ties to Special Operations and intelligence communities.
"UNION factories are the new arsenal of deterrence for America," CEO Will Somerindyke stated when the company launched publicly. "Our factories are smarter and faster—our supply chains resilient".
The company's leadership team includes co-founder Joe Musselman, who serves as managing partner at Bravo Victor Venture Capital, and co-founder Jon Reiland, a U.S. Marine veteran who became UNION's first employee. The veteran-led organization has recruited talent from Tesla, Anduril, and General Dynamics across engineering, robotics, and manufacturing disciplines.
Addressing the Critical Ammunition Shortage Crisis
UNION's emergence reflects urgent Western needs for artillery shell production capacity, highlighted by Ukraine's consumption of millions of 155mm rounds during its conflict with Russia. Ukrainian forces have reportedly launched as many as 8,000 rounds daily, leading to occasional shortfalls and rationing that increased pressure on NATO allies to boost munitions production.
The European Union's production capacity for 155mm shells may be less than half of the public estimates by senior officials, according to investigative reporting by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. The EU has delivered approximately 3 million artillery rounds to Ukraine since February 2022, falling short of promised quantities with significant delays.
"The problem behind the energetic enterprise is that we don't build the things that build the things anymore in this country, and we forgot how to forge steel," Musselman told Breaking Defense. He emphasized that America "gave away our manufacturing might over the last half century".
Saudi Partnership Aligns With Vision 2030 Goals
Riyadh-headquartered Nadrah Trading Company's investment reflects Saudi Arabia's ambitious Vision 2030 strategy to localize 50 percent of its military spending by the end of the decade and develop domestic defense manufacturing capabilities. The Kingdom allocated approximately $78 billion for military expenditures in its 2025 budget, representing 21% of total government spending.
"Union's state-of-the-art approach to munitions manufacturing, robotics, and software integration complements Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 strategy to diversify its industrial base and strengthen our defense capability," Nadrah CEO Muhammad Al Hassan stated.
The Saudi defense industry's localization rate has increased from 4 percent in 2018 to 19.35 percent in 2024, demonstrating steady progress toward self-sufficiency. The General Authority for Military Industries oversees sector development, while Saudi Arabian Military Industries serves as the Public Investment Fund-backed industrial champion.
Autonomous Manufacturing Platform Targets Scale Production
UNION's proprietary technology platform includes three breakthrough systems: Faction (Factory Operating System), Fabric (reimagined SCADA for secure manufacturing), and Factorial (Factory Site Intelligence Engine). The company aims to establish two production lines capable of manufacturing 60,000 155mm shells monthly by late 2026.
The startup's first production line, which is expected to employ 50 to 75 people, is anticipated to produce initial sample articles by year-end, with the second line becoming operational in 2026. Advanced robotics and machining improvements have reduced production line size by 30 to 40 percent while boosting capacity compared to traditional manufacturing approaches.
"We engineer factories—we're also reinforcing alliances," Somerindyke emphasized regarding the Saudi partnership. "Nadrah understands the stakes. They bring speed, clarity, and strategic alignment to a critical moment in defense manufacturing".
Strategic Partnerships With Allied Nations
UNION has secured strategic partnership agreements and letters of intent with NATO and non-NATO U.S. allies to support defense restocking efforts. The company positions its facilities as deployable blueprints and co-architect services for allied nations seeking sovereign deterrence capabilities.
The startup's "Factories-as-a-Stockpile" model represents what leadership describes as a new doctrine for national security manufacturing, building autonomous, deployable factories to restore strategic stockpiles for America and its allies. This approach delivers deterrence "as infrastructure—not inventory," according to company materials.
Nadrah's participation deepens bilateral cooperation across industrial modernization, strategic manufacturing, and technology transfer initiatives between the United States and Saudi Arabia. The partnership reflects broader U.S.-Saudi defense collaboration, including a record $142 billion arms deal signed in May 2025.
Industrial Base Reconstruction
UNION's rapid scaling reflects broader concerns about Western manufacturing capabilities in an increasingly dangerous global environment. The company avoided long lead times by pre-ordering heavy manufacturing machinery in early 2024, months before formal incorporation.
As Ukraine continues requiring substantial ammunition support and Western nations confront potential conflicts with near-peer adversaries, UNION's autonomous manufacturing approach may influence future defense industrial base development. The startup's success in attracting both American venture capital and Saudi strategic investment demonstrates international recognition of the critical importance of munitions production capacity in contemporary conflict scenarios.