Donald Trump announced a major investment in the submarine industry during a visit to Baltimore on Tuesday, October 6. The project, valued at over 6.6 billion dollars, involves a contract awarded to Anduril, a technology company. The deal includes 3.7 billion dollars for building a new factory, which is expected to begin operations in 2030 and create 3,100 jobs. The factory will produce parts for Virginia-class submarines, which are a key component of the U.S. Navy’s underwater fleet. The announcement was made during a press conference call, with details confirmed by both the White House and Anduril. Anduril’s co-founder, Palmer Luckey, is a prominent figure in the defense and technology sectors. He recently joined the Pentagon’s "Meridian Project," a committee focused on identifying the technologies and weapons the United States will need for future military conflicts. Luckey is joined on this committee by Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, and Newt Gingrich, a former Republican congressman and political commentator. Luckey also advises the Pentagon on defense-related matters. Anna Kelly, deputy spokesperson for the White House, stated that the investment reflects the president’s goal of restoring American maritime dominance. This comes as Trump has been making frequent visits and holding meetings to boost support for his party ahead of the November mid-term elections, where polls suggest potential losses for Republicans. Since returning to the presidency and appointing Pete Hegseth to lead the Department of Defense, the Pentagon has strengthened its ties with defense companies and influential investors in the sector. One such investor is Marc Andreessen, a well-known venture capitalist and co-founder of the influential Venture Capital firm Andreessen Horowitz. He has recently been appointed to an advisory committee within the Pentagon. Meanwhile, the U.S. Navy currently operates 24 Virginia-class submarines, which are central to a major defense agreement with Australia. However, American shipyards are facing challenges in meeting production targets, aiming to build two new submarines each year.