Avio USA breaks ground in Virginia on first US solid rocket motor facility, bolstering the defense supply chain and creating more than 1,000 jobs

HURT, Va., Sept. 29, 2026 — Avio USA has broken ground on its first U.S. manufacturing facility, a roughly 900,000‑square‑foot solid rocket motor plant in Hurt, Virginia, intended to boost domestic capacity for U.S. missile and munitions production. Located at the Southern Virginia Multimodal Park, the site is planned to produce thousands of solid rocket motors annually for U.S. tactical missile programs and create about 1,500 technical jobs in Southern Virginia.

“America needs new suppliers to expand capacity, strengthen competition, and accelerate production now for solid rocket motors and munitions,” said Secretary Hung Cao. “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.”

“Avio USA is building more than a manufacturing facility in Virginia. We are building an American company and workforce that can bring Avio’s proven propulsion expertise to the U.S. defense market,” said James Syring, CEO of Avio USA. “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. That means more capacity, more competition and greater resilience in the American rocket motor supply chain. We are grateful to the Commonwealth of Virginia, the Town of Hurt, Pittsylvania County, the Department of War and our customers for their support.”

“I am thrilled to welcome Avio to Pittsylvania County and look forward to the opportunities this investment will create for generations of Virginians to come,” said Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger. “This groundbreaking represents what is possible when an innovative company, a skilled workforce, and committed state and local partners come together with a shared vision. Avio’s investment will create jobs, advance critical manufacturing capabilities, and reinforce Virginia’s position as a premier destination for aerospace and defense industry growth.”

Avio USA is a subsidiary of Avio S.p.A., a rocket and space propulsion company based in Rome, and operates under a DCSA Special Security Agreement. “Today we are turning Avio’s long-term strategy into industrial reality,” said Giulio Ranzo, CEO of Avio. “The successful completion of our capital raise provided the resources for this investment, which will expand the U.S. solid rocket motor manufacturing capacity and establish a lasting American presence for Avio. Combining our proven expertise with local talent, we will support our customers and contribute to a more resilient defense supply chain.”

HITT Contracting is the general contractor for the project. Construction is slated to finish by late 2028, with production expected to begin in early 2029. The facility is being developed to support solid rocket motor needs across the U.S. defense industry, including programs for Lockheed Martin and Raytheon.

“This new facility is a significant step toward a more robust and diverse supply chain for solid rocket motors that are critical to our nation’s defense,” said Tim Cahill, president of Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. “Lockheed Martin is working hand-in-hand with Avio USA to expand this vital resource that will benefit the entire defense industrial base.”

“Today’s groundbreaking expands the nation’s manufacturing capacity for solid rocket motors,” said Bob Butz, senior vice president of Operations, Supply Chain and Quality at Raytheon, an RTX business. “Modern production facilities focused on critical defense technologies are essential to strengthening national readiness. By expanding and diversifying our supply base through additional sourcing options, we are supporting long‑term growth across the defense industrial base and ensuring we can deliver more capability faster to the warfighter.”

“Avio’s project is an important investment in our home state of Virginia, increasing manufacturing and the domestic supply chain that supports our nation’s defense capabilities,” said Josh Foreso, executive vice president of HITT Contracting. “HITT has a long history of building throughout Virginia, and we’re proud to bring our local experience in manufacturing and aerospace construction to Avio’s new home in Hurt. Alongside strong local trade partners, we are focused on safely delivering another piece of America’s critical infrastructure while supporting Avio’s investment in the expansion of U.S. manufacturing.”