Avio USA Breaks Ground on Major Virginia Rocket Motor Plant

Avio USA broke ground on September 29 on a 900,000-square-foot solid rocket motor manufacturing complex in Hurt, Virginia. The new plant, located in the Southern Virginia Multimodal Park, is designed to support U.S. tactical missile programs and begin production in early 2029.

Construction is expected to finish in late 2028. HITT Contracting, based in Falls Church, Virginia, is serving as the general contractor. The facility is a key part of a strategy to increase capacity, competition, and resilience in the American rocket motor supply chain.

Strategic defense partnerships

The facility will supply solid rocket motors to major defense primes under preferred access agreements. Its output is intended for U.S. tactical missile programs.

Lockheed Martin has a November 2025 term sheet for preferred access to a portion of the plant's capacity for tactical- and strategic-size motors. Raytheon, an RTX business, has signed a memorandum of understanding for preferred access to a share of production capacity. The project is meant to provide these companies with an additional, independent source for critical components.

Production capacity and economic impact

The plant will have the capacity to produce thousands of solid rocket motors annually. Upon completion, it is expected to create roughly 1,500 technical jobs in the region.

The project represents an investment of more than $500 million. Avio is eligible for a Virginia state special appropriation of up to $97.7 million, contingent on the investment exceeding $500 million and the creation of more than 1,000 jobs.

Corporate and financial backing

Avio USA is a subsidiary of Rome-based Avio S.p.A., operating under a Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency special security agreement. The investment will establish a lasting American presence for the parent company.

James Syring, the Chief Executive of Avio USA, stated the goal is to be an independent, open-source merchant supplier supporting multiple customers and defense primes. Giulio Ranzo is the Chief Executive of Avio.

Tim Cahill is the president of Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. Bob Butz is Raytheon’s senior vice president of Operations, Supply Chain and Quality. HITT Executive Vice President Josh Foreso also commented on the project. The facility is expected to support full-series production beginning in 2029, contributing to expanded U.S. solid rocket motor manufacturing capacity and supply chain resilience.