Nearly 18 months after Anduril announced its presence in Ohio and 4 months after beginning production, the company is celebrating the first autonomous aircraft completed at its massive new factory.

Why it matters: The defense company's Arsenal-1 facility near Rickenbacker is anticipated to be one of Ohio's largest job creation and economic development projects as war in Iran adds urgency to its work.

The latest: At an unveiling yesterday, the company rolled out its first completed YFQ-44A model, an autonomous drone known as the Fury, from the site

• The event was a celebration for Anduril's first Ohio production team, joined by workers' families, company leadership and state political and economic officials.

The vibe: As the room commemorated the production of devices designed to kill, workers enjoyed an open bar and ate catered lunch while kids played games, including giant Anduril-themed Battleship.

• It was all a bit surreal.

By the numbers: Anduril now employs 133 employees in its first Ohio production facility.

• COO Matt Grimm says by 2035, the site will support 4,000 direct jobs in a dozen buildings adding up to more than 5 million square feet.
• He calls it "the largest job creation project in Ohio history."

What they're saying: Gov. Mike DeWine was ecstatic to toast Anduril, "a company of the future" furthering Ohio's status as the "aerospace capital of the world."

• "They're doing it in a different way. They threw the whole playbook out and said, 'We can do this faster. We can do it better. We can do it cheaper.'"

The big picture: Anduril's production speed helps explain its growing presence in the scheme of U.S. defense.

• Anduril is capable of cutting typical weapons program timelines from 12 to two or three years while reducing cost by 60% to 80%, Grimm told reporters in March.

That's made the company more appealing amid the ongoing war in Iran.

• Anduril has announced a half-dozen new deals and agreements since the start of June alone, including an Air Force contract to deliver more Fury models.
• Senior VP of production Keith Flynn said in March the U.S. and its allies had "a need to be able to produce these assets for ourselves and our allies at a rate that hasn't been done for a long, long time."

Despite that, Fury head of production John Malone tells Axios his team's timelines have never been adjusted and he's felt no pressure to speed up anything.

"Together, we delivered on what we said we could do. We built Arsenal-1, we built the first YFQ-44A and we've earned the opportunity to build many more for the United States Air Force."

Anduril promises the first drone is one of many on the way.

• Malone says the first Fury off the line is a demonstration of "the machine that builds the machine."
• "Now let's go build 100 more."

🚫 Ohio State fraternity Pi Kappa Phi will lose its organization status for 10 years after a March hazing incident resulted in a student's hospitalization. (The Lantern)

📹 Columbus police launched a website featuring data on its usage of Flock license plate readers amid privacy concerns and an upcoming hearing on the controversial cameras. (WCMH-TV)

🎓 Columbus State's proposal to waive tuition for local high school graduates using a tax levy is igniting debate, with college trustees ultimately delaying a vote last week.

• The deadline to put the issue on the November ballot is Aug. 5. (Dispatch)

🍕 The new Mikey's in Grandview opens Friday, with free slices and T-shirts for the first 100 customers. (Columbus Underground)

Despite a small local outbreak to start the year, Ohio has avoided an staggering number of measles cases so far.

Why it matters: At over 2,300 cases, the U.S. measles case count has officially shattered last year's record — hitting levels unseen in more than three decades, according to CDC data released Friday.

• The last time counts were higher was in 1991, at 9,643 cases.

Zoom in: Ohio has officially logged 13, and five were part of the local outbreak involving unvaccinated children in January.

• A sixth person traveled internationally in February and potentially exposed others at John Glenn International Airport.
• Last week, health officials announced more cases in Ashtabula County.

Zoom out: Measles was declared eliminated in the U.S. 26 years ago thanks to an effective vaccination program, but rates are slipping below the 95% threshold needed for herd immunity.

• The majority of cases are in unvaccinated young people.
• There have been no recorded deaths.

Go deeper: These seven states are hot spots for 2026's record measles outbreak

It's National Milk Chocolate Day, and if you want to treat yourself, we've got recommendations.

Five places to shop local:

• Anthony-Thomas, several locations, including a tourable West Side factory.
• Chocolate Cafe, a cozy spot with two locations for lunch and dessert.
• Colonial Candy, a Clintonville classic.
• Pure Imagination, two locations.
• Schmidt's Fudge Haus, next to the iconic German Village eatery.

🚗 Plus, a road trip idea: Wittich's Candy Shop in Circleville touts itself as the nation's oldest family-owned and operated candy maker, dating back to 1840.