AV Expands U.S. Manufacturing in Salt Lake City, Utah with FreedomWerx, a State-of-the-Art Facility Driving Innovation and Growth
AeroVironment (AVAV) announced the establishment of FreedomWerx, a 200,000-square-foot advanced manufacturing facility in Salt Lake City, Utah. The facility, part of AV's distributed production strategy, will enhance the company's capacity to deliver precision-strike autonomous systems to government and defense partners.
The strategic location near Salt Lake City International Airport optimizes logistics and supply chain efficiencies. The company plans to create over 500 high-paying jobs, contributing to Utah's economic growth and defense innovation sector.
FreedomWerx is expected to begin production in the second half of 2025, focusing on manufacturing Loitering Munitions Systems. The facility represents AV's approach to maintaining multiple, strategically located production sites to mitigate risks from natural disasters, security threats, and geopolitical disruptions.
AeroVironment (AVAV) ha annunciato l'istituzione di FreedomWerx, un impianto di produzione avanzata di 200.000 piedi quadrati a Salt Lake City, Utah. Questo impianto, parte della strategia di produzione distribuita di AV, migliorerà la capacità dell'azienda di fornire sistemi autonomi a colpo di precisione ai partner governativi e della difesa.
La posizione strategica vicino all'Aeroporto Internazionale di Salt Lake City ottimizza la logistica e l'efficienza della catena di approvvigionamento. L'azienda prevede di creare oltre 500 posti di lavoro ben retribuiti, contribuendo alla crescita economica dell'Utah e al settore dell'innovazione nella difesa.
FreedomWerx dovrebbe iniziare la produzione nella seconda metà del 2025, concentrandosi sulla produzione di Sistemi di Munizioni a Volo Stazionario. L'impianto rappresenta l'approccio di AV per mantenere più siti di produzione strategicamente posizionati per mitigare i rischi derivanti da disastri naturali, minacce alla sicurezza e interruzioni geopolitiche.
AeroVironment (AVAV) anunció el establecimiento de FreedomWerx, una instalación de fabricación avanzada de 200,000 pies cuadrados en Salt Lake City, Utah. Esta instalación, parte de la estrategia de producción distribuida de AV, mejorará la capacidad de la empresa para ofrecer sistemas autónomos de ataque de precisión a socios gubernamentales y de defensa.
La ubicación estratégica cerca del Aeropuerto Internacional de Salt Lake City optimiza la logística y la eficiencia de la cadena de suministro. La empresa planea crear más de 500 empleos bien remunerados, contribuyendo al crecimiento económico de Utah y al sector de innovación en defensa.
Se espera que FreedomWerx comience la producción en la segunda mitad de 2025, enfocándose en la fabricación de Sistemas de Municiones de Sobrevuelo. La instalación representa el enfoque de AV para mantener múltiples sitios de producción ubicados estratégicamente para mitigar riesgos de desastres naturales, amenazas a la seguridad y disrupciones geopolíticas.
AeroVironment (AVAV)는 유타주 솔트레이크시티에 20만 평방피트 규모의 첨단 제조 시설인 FreedomWerx를 설립한다고 발표했습니다. 이 시설은 AV의 분산 생산 전략의 일환으로, 정부 및 방위 파트너에게 정밀 타격 자율 시스템을 제공할 수 있는 회사의 능력을 향상시킬 것입니다.
솔트레이크시티 국제공항 근처의 전략적 위치는 물류 및 공급망 효율성을 최적화합니다. 이 회사는 500개 이상의 높은 급여의 일자리를 창출할 계획이며, 이는 유타의 경제 성장과 방위 혁신 부문에 기여할 것입니다.
FreedomWerx는 2025년 하반기에 생산을 시작할 것으로 예상되며, 비행 정지 무기 시스템의 제조에 집중할 것입니다. 이 시설은 자연 재해, 보안 위협 및 지정학적 혼란으로 인한 위험을 완화하기 위해 전략적으로 위치한 여러 생산 사이트를 유지하려는 AV의 접근 방식을 나타냅니다.
AeroVironment (AVAV) a annoncé la création de FreedomWerx, une installation de fabrication avancée de 200 000 pieds carrés à Salt Lake City, Utah. Cette installation, qui fait partie de la stratégie de production distribuée d'AV, améliorera la capacité de l'entreprise à fournir des systèmes autonomes de frappe de précision à des partenaires gouvernementaux et de défense.
La localisation stratégique près de l'aéroport international de Salt Lake City optimise la logistique et l'efficacité de la chaîne d'approvisionnement. L'entreprise prévoit de créer plus de 500 emplois bien rémunérés, contribuant ainsi à la croissance économique de l'Utah et au secteur de l'innovation en matière de défense.
FreedomWerx devrait commencer la production dans la seconde moitié de 2025, en se concentrant sur la fabrication de systèmes de munitions volantes. L'installation représente l'approche d'AV pour maintenir plusieurs sites de production stratégiquement situés afin de réduire les risques liés aux catastrophes naturelles, aux menaces à la sécurité et aux perturbations géopolitiques.
AeroVironment (AVAV) hat die Gründung von FreedomWerx angekündigt, einer 200.000 Quadratfuß großen fortschrittlichen Fertigungsanlage in Salt Lake City, Utah. Diese Anlage, die Teil von AVs verteilter Produktionsstrategie ist, wird die Fähigkeit des Unternehmens verbessern, präzisionsgesteuerte autonome Systeme an Regierungs- und Verteidigungspartner zu liefern.
Die strategische Lage in der Nähe des internationalen Flughafens Salt Lake City optimiert die Logistik und die Effizienz der Lieferkette. Das Unternehmen plant, über 500 gut bezahlte Arbeitsplätze zu schaffen, was zum wirtschaftlichen Wachstum Utahs und zum Innovationssektor der Verteidigung beiträgt.
FreedomWerx wird voraussichtlich in der zweiten Hälfte des Jahres 2025 mit der Produktion beginnen und sich auf die Herstellung von schwebenden Munitionensystemen konzentrieren. Die Anlage stellt AVs Ansatz dar, mehrere strategisch gelegene Produktionsstandorte zu unterhalten, um Risiken durch Naturkatastrophen, Sicherheitsbedrohungen und geopolitische Störungen zu mindern.
- Creation of 500+ high-paying jobs
- Strategic expansion of manufacturing capacity
- Enhanced supply chain resilience through distributed production model
- Optimized logistics with proximity to major transportation hub
- Significant capital investment required for new facility
- Production not starting until H2 2025
Insights
The establishment of FreedomWerx represents a strategically significant expansion that strengthens AeroVironment's market position in several important ways. The 200,000-square-foot facility in Salt Lake City demonstrates a calculated response to increasing defense sector demands, particularly in autonomous systems and loitering munitions.
The distributed manufacturing strategy offers three key advantages:
- Enhanced operational resilience through geographic diversification of production capabilities
- Improved supply chain security by reducing single-point failure risks
- Increased production capacity to meet growing defense requirements
Utah's selection as the facility location is particularly strategic. The state's established aerospace and defense ecosystem provides access to a skilled workforce and robust supplier network. The proximity to the Salt Lake City International Airport optimizes logistics for both component sourcing and product distribution, potentially reducing transportation costs and delivery times.
The creation of 500 high-paying jobs signals a substantial operational scale-up, suggesting AeroVironment anticipates significant growth in demand for its autonomous systems. The timing of production commencement in H2 2025 aligns with projected increases in defense spending and growing international demand for autonomous defense capabilities.
The facility's focus on Loitering Munitions Systems is particularly noteworthy given current global conflicts that have demonstrated the critical importance of these systems in modern warfare. This expansion positions AeroVironment to capture increased market share in this high-growth segment while maintaining quality control through domestic production.
From an operational perspective, the distributed manufacturing approach provides a competitive advantage by ensuring uninterrupted production capabilities - a important factor for securing and maintaining large defense contracts. This model also offers flexibility to scale production based on demand fluctuations and specific program requirements.
New 200,000-square-foot facility will expand production of AV’s battle-proven Loitering Munitions Systems (Photo: AV)
As part of AV’s distributed production strategy, FreedomWerx strengthens the company’s capacity to ensure uninterrupted delivery of precision-strike autonomous systems to government and defense partners. Unlike single-location, hyperscale facilities, AV’s distributed production model enhances national security by ensuring resilient manufacturing and sustained delivery of mission-critical autonomous systems. By maintaining multiple, strategically located production sites, AV mitigates risks from natural disasters, security threats, and geopolitical disruptions—fortifying supply chain resilience and operational readiness. This approach positions AV as a more reliable and sustainable defense partner, ensuring continuous support to the DoD and allied forces.
Located just minutes from
This announcement results from a collaborative effort between AV, the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity (GOEO), Utah Inland Port Authority (UIPA), and the Economic Development Corporation of
“AeroVironment’s autonomous precision-strike systems have revolutionized modern warfare, providing warfighters with the ability to neutralize high-value threats with unprecedented accuracy while minimizing risk to friendly forces,” said Wahid Nawabi, AV chairman, president, and chief executive officer. “This facility represents a critical step in our mission to expand manufacturing capacity, ensuring our forces have the technological superiority needed to deter and, if necessary, decisively defeat adversaries.”
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“We’re thrilled to welcome AV to Salt Lake City,” said Scott Cuthbertson, president of EDCUtah. “As a leading defense technology company, AV’s expansion will not only bring high-quality jobs to the region but will also further solidify Salt Lake City’s position as a premier hub for advanced manufacturing and defense innovation. We look forward to the long-term contributions they will make to our economy and community.”
“AV’s expansion is a testament to Utah’s growing leadership in advanced manufacturing and aerospace innovation,” said Ben Hart, executive director of UIPA. “By leveraging our strategic infrastructure and economic incentives, we are helping to create high-quality jobs and support a cutting-edge industry that is critical to both national security and technological advancement. We look forward to seeing AV thrive in
AV anticipates FreedomWerx will begin production in the second half of 2025, further scaling the company’s manufacturing capacity to meet evolving defense requirements. This expansion is a strategic investment in next-generation autonomous capabilities, ensuring
ABOUT AEROVIRONMENT, INC.
AeroVironment (NASDAQ: AVAV) is a global leader in intelligent multi-domain robotic systems, uncrewed aircraft and ground systems, sensors, software analytics and connectivity. Headquartered in
SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT
Certain statements in this press release may constitute "forward-looking statements" as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are made on the basis of current expectations, forecasts and assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, economic, competitive, governmental and technological factors outside of our control, that may cause our business, strategy or actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, our ability to perform under existing contracts and obtain additional contracts; changes in the regulatory environment; the activities of competitors; failure of the markets in which we operate to grow; failure to expand into new markets; failure to develop new products or integrate new technology with current products; and general economic and business conditions in
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MEDIA CONTACT
Rene´ Bardorf
AeroVironment
+1.703.418.2828
pr@avinc.com
Source: AeroVironment
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