# Avio USA Builds Virginia Rocket Motor Facility

Avio USA broke ground on September 29, 2026, at Southern Virginia Multimodal Park in Hurt, Virginia, on a planned **$500 million** solid rocket motor manufacturing facility of approximately 900,000 square feet (one report gives 860,000 square feet). Construction is expected to finish by the end of 2028, with production targeted for early 2029. The facility is planned to include four production lines and support defense propulsion, missile and munition programs, as well as commercial space; Lockheed Martin and RTX’s Raytheon business are identified as programs the facility is intended to support. The announcement is a capacity investment, not a solicitation or contract award.

- The project signals potential expansion of U.S. solid rocket motor capacity and diversification of the supply base. Suppliers of components and production services may assess where their capabilities align with the planned facility and supported programs.
- Because no solicitation, facility contract value, or supplier contact is announced, contractors should treat future business as prospective rather than as an active bid opportunity.
- The construction and early-2029 production schedule gives defense suppliers a concrete timeframe for evaluating potential capacity and supply-chain needs.

**Jurisdictions:** federal, sled
**Industries:** Defense & Military, Construction & Infrastructure
**Topics:** Physical Infrastructure
**Published:** September 30, 2026

### Government Entities
- Commonwealth of Virginia
- Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP)
- U.S. Navy (USN)

### Vendors
- Avio USA (Facility developer and planned producer)
- Lockheed Martin (Missile-program customer)
- Raytheon (Missile-program customer)

### Key Quotes
> Our goal is to be an independent, open-source merchant supplier, able to support multiple customers and programs and provide major defense primes with an additional source for this critical capability.
> — James Syring, CEO of Avio USA

> Virginia already carries a critical share of the nation’s energetics workload. This new facility in Hurt will build on that strength, reinforce our defense industrial base and help ensure our warfighters are equipped to fight, win and come home safe.
> — Hung Cao, Acting Secretary of the Navy

### Sources
- [Avio Breaks Ground On New Solid Rocket Motor Facility Expected To Begin Production In 2029 - Defense Daily](https://www.defensedaily.com/avio-breaks-ground-on-new-solid-rocket-motor-facility-expected-to-begin-production-in-2029/business-financial) - Defense Daily
- [Avio USA Breaks Ground on U.S. Solid Rocket Motor Facility](https://www.executivegov.com/articles/avio-usa-solid-rocket-motors-missiles-munitions-thaad-lockheed-martin-raytheon) - ExecutiveGov
- [September Releases](https://www.governor.virginia.gov//newsroom/news-releases/2026/september-releases/name-1124207-en.html) - VA