Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. has officially opened a new 55,000-square-foot state-of-the-art hypersonic systems manufacturing and payload integration facility in Princess Anne, Maryland. The announcement marks the company’s sixth new facility opening within a year, underlining its continued investment in expanding the United States defence industrial base.
The advanced facility is intended to significantly enhance Kratos’ ability to support launch operations and hypersonic testing activities, particularly for the Multi-Service Advanced Capability Hypersonic Test Bed (MACH-TB) 2.0 programme. The site will also serve other customers across multiple US defence and research agencies, including the US Navy, US Air Force, DARPA and the Missile Defense Agency.
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According to Kratos, the Princess Anne investment will increase production capacity, streamline payload integration processes and enable faster responses to rising demand for affordable hypersonic flight testing. Dave Carter, president of Kratos’ Defense & Rocket Support Services Division, said the facility will play a central role in supporting the company’s $1.4 billion MACH-TB 2.0 contract, allowing for a higher test cadence and more cost-effective flight test opportunities for emerging hypersonic technologies.
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The facility incorporates advanced manufacturing capabilities, specialised integration areas and enhanced testing equipment, reflecting Kratos’ expanding role in hypersonic testing and launch operations. Its location was selected for its proximity to NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility, providing logistical advantages and operational efficiencies.
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Local and regional leaders welcomed the arrival of Kratos in Princess Anne. Town Manager Jay Prouse said the company’s presence is expected to strengthen the local economy and business community, while Somerset County Economic Development Commission executive director Danny Thompson highlighted the collaboration between Kratos, the town and county as a driver for growth in the aerospace engineering sector, supporting job retention and economic development.
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Kratos president and chief executive officer Eric DeMarco said the new site reflects the company’s strategy of making upfront investments to rapidly develop and field relevant national security systems. He noted that, like other Kratos facilities, the Princess Anne site is closely aligned with specific customers, programmes and hardware requirements, enabling efficient, low-cost manufacturing and rapid delivery in support of operational needs.
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The Princess Anne facility is expected to generate new high-skilled employment in the region and further strengthen Kratos’ capacity to support accelerated hypersonic technology development and testing programmes.
SOURCE AND IMAGE: KRATOS DEFENSE
