Sponsored by Galvion
www.galvion.com
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18 Nov 25. Galvion to supply over 250,000 Caiman® Ballistic Helmets to NATO. Galvion, a global leader in the design and manufacture of innovative head systems, power and data management solutions, and integrated soldier systems, has so far received orders for 225,000 Batlskin Caiman® head systems via the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) framework contract, from those countries already publicly announced. In addition, in recent months Galvion has received a number of new orders, yet to be announced, and has a few more in process, that will soon take the total past the 250,000 milestone. Galvion joined the NSPA framework, which facilitates the easy procurement of its high-performance Batlskin Caiman® head system and accessories for NATO countries and partners, in December 2022. To meet demand, Galvion built a new European production hub in Gdansk, Poland, which employs over 70 specialists and houses helmet finishing and assembly capabilities, in addition to, critical support, maintenance, refurbishment, upgrade and training operations. In parallel, Galvion established a production partnership with a UK manufacturer to support regional program and customer demand. In order to qualify for the NSPA framework contract, Galvion had to pass extensive user trials under the strict supervision of the NSPA standards authority. The Batlskin Caiman® helmet system qualified for the highest performance category, of four available categories. The Caiman® helmet system comes in five sizes and is equipped with Galvion’s very latest APEX lining system, which is adjustable for a customized user fit ensuring unparalleled stability for the latest visual augmentation devices. The Caiman helmet is scalable for highly dynamic operations with mission-specific accessories, and is expressly designed to incorporate electronics, communications headsets, and other critical equipment, now and into the future.
Todd Stirtzinger, CEO at Galvion said: “Our primary goal at Galvion is to empower the missions of operators around the world. As a team, we are incredibly proud to see so many of our head systems fielded across NATO, whether through the NSPA framework or other official program contracts, and we look forward to supplying existing and new customers through additional orders.” He added: “We have invested heavily in an expanded global production footprint and are continuously evaluating opportunities to support our growing NATO and wider EU customer base. Our regional production strategy strengthens supply chain resilience and ensures that our European and NATO customers have reliable access to our best-in-class equipment, when and where they need it”.
20 Nov 25. NGC and MBDA in Germany Sign MOU to Strengthen German Air and Missile Defense Capabilities. Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC) and MBDA in Germany have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to enhance Germany’s air and missile defense capabilities during the Berlin Security Conference. Northrop Grumman’s expertise in integrated air and missile defense command and control systems, as demonstrated through the Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS), provides opportunities for collaboration with MBDA in Germany’s integrated air and missile defense solutions including the ARANEUS™ system as well as other related capabilities. Through this collaboration the companies will explore leveraging their respective specialized defense technologies during a series of technical exchanges and potential demonstrations.
Kenn Todorov, vice president and general manager, command and control and weapons integration, Northrop Grumman: “Northrop Grumman is dedicated to collaborating with our industrial partners to create innovative, sovereign solutions that improve the performance and effectiveness of both current and future integrated air and missile defense systems. A connected battlespace across Germany and its European allies, supported by advanced command and control technologies like IBCS, is essential for deterring and countering aggression. This connectivity is further enhanced by collaborative efforts within the defense industry, such as the opportunities we will explore with MBDA in Germany.”
Thomas Gottschild, MBDA executive group director strategy and managing director, MBDA Deutschland: “The MOU is of great importance for industrial cooperation between the United States and Germany. We are evaluating the capabilities and strengths of our companies to investigate possible integrated solutions for the German armed forces air defence systems. It is our combined goal to strengthen air defence in Germany and NATO partner nations to enable joint operations.”
IBCS is a revolutionary system that delivers fire control quality and battle management, unifying current and future systems regardless of source, service or domain. Through its network enabled, modular, open and scalable architecture, IBCS fuses sensor data for a single, actionable picture of the full battlespace. This ready-now capability gives warfighters more time to assess and respond to threats, serving as a foundational element for enabling joint and coalition, multi-domain operations. IBCS is in full-rate production, currently fielded in Poland, and planned for fielding in Combatant Commands in Europe and the Indo-Pacific as part of the U.S. Army program of record for integrated air and missile defense modernization. (Source: ASD Network)
20 Nov 25. Helsing Opens its 1st UK Resilience Factory in Plymouth to Build AI-Enabled Submarine-Hunters. Europe’s largest defence technology company, Helsing, has officially opened its first UK Resilience Factory in Plymouth to build autonomous gliders to help allied navies hunt down enemy submarines.The facility was opened by the Secretary of State for Defence, alongside Helsing leadership and staff, civic representatives, academic leaders, MPs and industry partners. Helsing moved into the 18,000 square feet factory near Plymouth just weeks ago and has already begun production of its maritime products and testingof them at sea from the nearby Turnchapel Wharf, as well as the British Underwater Test and Evaluation Centre (BUTEC) in Scotland. To develop and iterate Helsing’s maritime offering, a new high-tech R&D Hub is being created, including advanced manufacturing machines and software tools. The Plymouth site will be Helsing’s Maritime Centre of Excellence. The factory will immediately create high skilled and manufacturing jobs in the South West, scaling to hundreds to meet future demand. It will initially focus on maritime capabilities, building Helsing’s SG-1 Fathom – an autonomous underwater glider designed and manufactured in Britain to strengthen European and allied defence. The SG-1 Fathom is combined in Plymouth with Helsing’s Maritime AI platform, Lura, to enable advanced technologies and engineering to be deployed at sea. Constellations of gliders deliver persistent underwater surveillance, detecting enemy activity to protect our sea lanes and undersea critical national infrastructure. This factory supports Helsing’s commitment to sovereign manufacturing in the UK, and follows successful trials of the SG-1 at sea in the Western Approaches, Scotland and Western Australia in recent months. The plan to build a factory was announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in July 2025 as part of the company’s £350 million commitment to the UK under the 2024 Trinity House agreement. From today it will be producing and maintaining SG-1 Fathom and be the global research and development centre of excellence for Helsing’s maritime offer.
Defence Secretary John Healey MP, said: “For too long our proud industrial heartlands like Plymouth saw jobs go away and not come back. We are changing that. In this new era of threat, the defence dividend from our record investment is measured in good jobs, thriving businesses, new skills for the British people. That is exactly what we’re seeing in Plymouth with Helsing’s cuttingedge new factory showing the benefits of our defence growth deals which are backed by £250 million investment, and the city’s leading maritime autonomous industry.
“We are making defence an engine for growth to deliver national and economic security.”
Ned Baker, Managing Director of Helsing UK, said: “From Plymouth we’ll be manufacturing the autonomous systems that keep our sailors, ships and infrastructure safe. The SG-1 Fathom shows how world-class engineering and AI can combine to deliver capability at scale – enhancing national resilience, building skills, and supporting our allies.” The opening also strengthens Helsing’s collaboration with national government, the local community, the University of Plymouth and Plymouth City Council as part of ‘Team Plymouth’, a partnership driving growth and innovation in one of the UK’s designated Defence Growth Zones. Helsing’s investment will generate local jobs, expand domestic supply chains and reinforce the UK’s maritime autonomy cluster.”
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves MP, said: “Helsing’s investment in Plymouth shows confidence in Britain’s world-class engineering, talent and leadership in defence technology. By investing in advanced manufacturing and research in the South West, Helsing is creating high-skilled jobs, strengthening our national security, and driving growth in communities that have long been at the heart of our maritime story. As I set out in the Spring Statement, at least 10% of MOD’s equipment procurement spending will go to novel technologies like these. This is part of our Defence Plan to build a Britain that works for working people, creating good jobs, supporting innovation, and spreading investment nationwide.”
Amelia Gould, General Manager of Maritime Helsing, added: “There’s no better place than Plymouth to lead in maritime autonomy. With deep water, strong local supply chains and exceptional talent, we’re proud to call this city home.” (Source: ASD Network)
19 Nov 25. Boxer fitted with Leopard 2 Trophy APS. EuroTrophy has fitted a Boxer 8×8 armoured vehicle with its Trophy active protection system (APS) taken off a Leopard 2 main battle tank (MBT), the company’s managing director and co-founder, Dan Kalfus, told SAE Media Group’s Future Armoured Vehicles Survivability (FAVS) 2025 conference held in London from 17 to 19 November. He said the APS took two weeks to install during the Boxer’s overhaul at KNDS Deutschland in Munich. The installation was possible after eight months of design work, according to Kalfus. KNDS Deutschland and EuroTrophy first announced the integration of the Trophy APS onto the first pre-series Boxer in the armoured personnel carrier (APC) configuration on 9 September. The integration was a joint industry initiative, with engineering efforts including design reviews, surveys, and adaptation work on the first Boxer APC module, followed by tests on the platform, including calibration of the APS to prepare it for live firing. On 9 September, the companies also announced that a series of live firing tests would be conducted in Germany during the upcoming months for risk mitigation for all current and future Boxer users seeking to increase the protection of their platforms. They said integration of the battlefield-proven APS makes it combat ready, enabling protection from anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs), rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), unmanned aerial vehicles, and other anti-tank threats. Kalfus said that 8,000 tests have been conducted with Trophy. He noted that a Patria 8×8 Armoured Modular Vehicle (AMV) demonstrator with two Trophy APS launchers was presented during Patria’s Arctic event in Rovaniemi, Lapland, in March and had been tested in the snow. (Source: Janes)
19 Nov 25. U.S. approves sale of Patriot launcher upgrades to Ukraine. The U.S. government said this week it has approved Ukraine’s potential purchase of equipment to upgrade its Patriot air defense launchers to the latest configuration. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced State Department approval of the possible foreign military sale, which could be worth up to $105m, in a Tuesday statement and said it has notified Congress. The main contractors on the deal would be RTX Corp. of Arlington, Va., and Lockheed Martin of Bethesda, Md., which are the primary companies that build Patriot systems and missiles. The United States first shipped Patriot systems to Ukraine in April 2023, more than a year after Russia invaded and launched a grueling war. Russia bombards military targets and cities and other civilian sites with drones and missiles, including hypersonic weapons daily. Patriots are now seen as crucial to Ukraine’s effort defense against Russian attacks. Other nations, such as Germany, have also provided Patriot systems to Ukraine. NATO’s top commander told a conference in Germany in July that he was pushing to transfer more Patriot systems to Ukraine as quickly as possible. That same month, the U.S. told Switzerland it would send Patriot systems that had been intended for sale to the Swiss to Ukraine instead. But the U.S. and other partner nations also need Patriot batteries elsewhere, including in the Middle East and Taiwan, which would use them against a potential Chinese invasion. Patriot production faces bottlenecks that limit production, which can make nations reluctant to part with many of their systems, and they need to maintain their own stockpiles. Still, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said this month Ukraine had received more Patriot systems. This most recent sale approval would allow Ukraine to improve Patriots already in hand. The equipment and services included in the sale would allow Ukraine to upgrade its current complement of M901 Patriot launchers to the M903 configuration. The sale would also include ground support equipment, spare parts, support, training, accessories, and other logistical and program support elements. M903 launchers can fire all different types of Patriot missiles, according to Lockheed Martin, including the PAC-3 MSE, or missile segment enhancement. The PAC-3 MSE has improved capabilities such as updated software and systems that allow it to home in on and destroy an enemy target. The M903 launcher can carry up to 12 PAC-3 MSE missiles, or a combination of fewer PAC-3 MSEs and other types of Patriot missiles. DSCA said Ukraine would have no trouble integrating these Patriot upgrades and equipment into its armed forces and leave it better able to defend itself but would not alter the basic military balance in the region. The statement said the sale will support the U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives “by improving the security of a partner country that is a force for political stability and economic progress in Europe.” If Ukraine buys the Patriot upgrades and equipment, DSCA said it would require about five U.S. government personnel and 15 contractors to be assigned to Europe for up to a month to train Ukrainian personnel. (Source: Defense News)
19 Nov 25. Kymeta, the global leader in mobile satellite communications powered by metamaterials technology and Innovative Rocket Technologies Inc. (iRocket), a revolutionary rocket manufacturer have today announced a strategic collaboration to further develop, integrate and test Kymeta’s new conformal multi-orbit technology within iRocket’s missile interceptors. As the Pentagon increases its reliance on commercial providers for defense technology, specifically satellite services, this partnership will enable a new generation of always-connected, highly responsive interceptor systems – a capability widely viewed as essential to the future Golden Dome vision for continental defense. By integrating its conformal technology into iRocket’s missiles, Kymeta will enable multi-orbit, real-time satellite connectivity that delivers mid-course updates, improves accuracy, and enhances resilience in contested environments. Kymeta’s conformal antenna innovation leverages the distinctive electromagnetic properties of metamaterials, the company’s proven engineering foundation. The conformal antenna innovation supersedes gimbaled or phased array systems, enabling a surface-integrated design that blends seamlessly into the interceptor’s body, reducing drag and detectability, while improving performance.
The lightweight, low profile of metamaterial components, combined with iRocket’s cutting-edge propulsion and interceptor capabilities, will deliver significant improvements in mission performance. These include:
- Enhanced interceptor performance: precise, agile beam steering for sensors and communications dramatically improves accuracy and effectiveness
- Reduced size, weight and power (SWaP): elimination of bulky mechanical parts, enabling smaller, lighter, and more power-efficient systems critical for range, speed, and manoeuvrability
- Superior signal detection and security: dynamic, low-power beamforming enhances tracking and communication while minimizing thermal and electromagnetic signatures for survivability in contested environments
- Comms resiliency: multi-orbit and multi-band connectivity supports a full PACE communications framework
“With the U.S. government pushing to integrate cutting-edge commercial technology into military capabilities faster, and more flexibly, than traditional rigid procurement strategies allow, our work with iRocket meets this need and demonstrates how our metamaterial technology and their advanced rockets can jointly deliver critical new defense capabilities,” said Manny Mora, President and CEO of Kymeta.
“We have demonstrated the power of our metamaterials for mobile, multi-orbit satellite communications. Now, we are applying that same innovation to help solve some of the most complex challenges in missile defense and space domain awareness.”
iRocket, a leader in reusable propulsion technology and next-generation missile and space vehicle development, views the partnership as a catalyst for breakthrough capabilities.
“Integrating Kymeta’s metamaterial technology is a game-changer for our missile and space platforms,” said Asad Malik, Founder, Chairman and CEO of iRocket. “This collaboration will enable us to build smarter, faster, and more efficient systems that can outperform existing technologies. It is a critical step toward advancing our mission of delivering rapid, responsive, and reusable capabilities to the defense and space sectors.
This initiative marks a new chapter in leveraging advanced technologies for national security and defense, providing resilient, always-connected interceptor capability that will underpin the Golden Dome’s continental defense architecture. The two companies will begin joint development and testing immediately, with initial integration trials planned for second half of 2026.
19 Nov 25. LM and Diehl Defence Announce Strategic Collaboration to Enhance Integrated Air and Missile Defense Around the World. Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) and Diehl Defence have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to explore the expansion of integrated air and missile defense (IAMD) capability to our partner nations around the world. The collaboration will enable us to work together on adding advanced IAMD capability by exploring the integration of the IRIS-T family into the Aegis Weapon System and the MK41 and MK70 Vertical Launching System. Integrating the IRIS-T family into Aegis would be the first European missile ever integrated into the combat system.
Executive Perspectives
“This strategic collaboration continues to showcase the scalability and increased capacity of our programs, which bring next-generation IAMD capability and 21st century security worldwide,” said Chandra Marshall, vice president at Lockheed Martin. “We have partnered with German industry for more than five decades, and we are proud to deepen our relationships by working with leading innovators such as Diehl Defence.”
Helmut Rauch, CEO of Diehl Defence said, “With Diehl Defence and Lockheed Martin linking up their expertise and capabilities, navies around the globe can benefit from the optimum for air defence systems on their surface combat vessels. We are proud to intensify our collaboration with Lockheed Martin in the field of guided missiles and the air defence applications.”
Our global industrial partnerships provide meaningful scope that creates jobs and investment in the global supply chain, creating local security and strengthening economies, industries and communities. (Source: ASD Network)
18 Nov 25. Tawazun Council for Defence Enablement and MBDA Announce Strategic Projects to Support Localisation of Defence Technology. Tawazun Council for Defence Enablement (Tawazun) and MBDA announced the launch of a series of strategic initiatives aimed at supporting the localisation of defence industries and developing the national innovation ecosystem. The announcement was made on the sidelines of Dubai Airshow 2025. The agreement was signed by Matar Ali Al Romaithi, Director General of the Industrial Development Directorate, and Eric Béranger, CEO of MBDA. These initiatives are part of MBDA’s commitment to the Tawazun Economic Programme, overseen by the Tawazun Council for Defence Enablement. The Programme works to strengthen strategic partnerships and facilitate the transfer of technology and know-how, contributing to the enhancement of national economic value, aligning with the UAE’s vision for industrial and technological transformation, and supporting the country’s competitiveness and leadership in advanced defence industries. Within this framework, MBDA announced the future establishment of MBDA UAE, wholly owned by the company. This move marks a new phase in the long-standing collaboration between the two parties since 2000 and aims to strengthen the company’s local presence while developing national capabilities in research and development, production, and technical support, thereby consolidating MBDA’s position as a long-term industrial partner of the UAE. MBDA also announced the project to develop loitering munitions integrated with artificial intelligence, in collaboration with the start-up Fly-R. The new system will feature an innovative design offering high speed and exceptional manoeuvrability, with AI integration providing enhanced operational superiority on modern battlefields. Continuing the efforts of the Council to attract global companies and promote technology localisation through UAE Tawazun Economic Programme, MBDA unveiled the Emirati Thermal Batteries (ETB) manufacturing plant project at Tawazun Industrial Park (TIP), which will serve as a new industrial branch of the global ASB Group. The plant aims to develop the local defence manufacturing ecosystem, as thermal batteries are a key and strategic component in missile production. The future establishment of this facility will strengthen the UAE’s defence manufacturing capabilities and its sovereignty in the missile sector. This project is part of the “Project Bank” portfolio launched by the Council as part of Tawazun Economic Programme, which seeks to support innovative projects and leverage advanced technology to enhance national capabilities.
Commenting on the announcements, Matar Ali Al Romaithi, Director General of the Industrial Development Directorate at Tawazun Council for Defence Enablement, said: “The newly announced projects in collaboration with MBDA reflect the depth of our strategic partnership and demonstrate the Council’s commitment to enabling the UAE’s defence industrial sector by attracting advanced technologies and localising supply chains. These initiatives represent a practical example of what Tawazun Economic Programme achieves in terms of targeted partnerships and strategic investments that support technology transfer and the development of national competencies, reinforcing the UAE’s role as a regional hub for advanced defence industries.”
Eric Béranger, CEO of MBDA, said: “The creation of the MBDA landed company in the UAE will be a major landmark of our enduring commitment to the UAE and an illustration of our long-term partnership with the Tawazun Council for Defence Enablement. The development and future production of the Diamond-Shaped loitering munition in the UAE will further demonstrate our commitment to spurring meaningful and tangible projects with high in-country value. This long-term collaboration allows us to continue supporting our common ambition of being an integral part of the growth of UAE defence industry in the best way possible.”
About MBDA
MBDA is a unique multi-national European group, a world-leader in the field of complex weapon systems, playing a key role in keeping nations safe. Created in the spirit of international co-operation, MBDA and its 18,000+ employees work together to support the national sovereignty of France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK, and their allies worldwide. As an accelerator for innovation, MBDA is the only European group capable of designing and manufacturing complex weapons to meet the full range of current and future operational requirements of the three armed forces (land, sea and air). Airbus (37.5%), BAE Systems (37.5%) and Leonardo (25%) jointly own MBDA.
19 Nov 25. Bullet Proofing Technology unveils new Featherlight hard armour plate at Milipol Paris. Bullet Proofing Technology (BPT), specialising in lightweight composite armour solutions, has launched its new Featherlight hard armour plate at the Milipol international exhibition in Paris this week, representing what it says is a significant leap forward in personal protection. The Featherlight plate is engineered to enhance officer mobility and comfort, weighing in at 0.5 kg. “Despite its minimal weight, the plate provides robust protection against common threats, meeting the NIJ Level IIIa standard for handgun rounds, including 9 mm and .44 Magnum. Crucially, the plate also offers certified protection against the challenging Tokarev round, a projectile known for its difficulty to defeat with standard armour systems,” BPT said on 18 November.
“The Featherlight plate is a direct response to the operational demands of modern security and police forces,” said Leon van der Westhuizen, COO of BPT. “We have engineered a solution that practically eliminates weight as a barrier to wearing hard armour, ensuring that personnel are protected against complex threats like the Tokarev round without compromising agility or endurance. This is a game-changer for daily patrol and high-risk operations.”
Adding a core emphasis on the user experience, Benny Jiyane, CEO of BPT, commented: “The core advantage of the Featherlight plate is its suitability for semi-permanent wear in low-to-medium risk environments. It was specifically developed for everyday policing tasks, VIP protection details, undercover operations, and private security. Its extremely low profile and weight allow it to be discreetly incorporated into normal plate carriers or specialized T-shirt style vests, which we displayed at Milipol. Our goal was simple: to make the user almost unaware of the system due to its low weight and flexibility, greatly improving compliance and comfort for long-duration wear.” The new armour solution features an ergonomic multi-curve design for a “superior” anatomical fit and is produced in a larger-than-standard 300 x 300 mm size, maximizing coverage without adding bulk.
“The composite technology utilised in the Featherlight plate sets a new standard for lightweight, multi-threat personal ballistic protection,” BPT said.
Earlier this year, BPT unveiled its Ultralight range of body armour so light that it can even float. The Ultralight range, showcased for the first time at the Securex exhibition in Johannesburg, features 1 kg plates that are a fraction of the weight of plates 30 years ago (3 kg) for Level III protection. At a weight of less than 1 kg for a 250 x 300 mm multi-curve plate, BPT said its Ultralight plates are so light and comfortable that they can be worn for extended periods. The plates exceed the requirements of NIJ 0101 Level III, by also providing protection against common threats such as the 5.56×45 mm Ball (R4) and 7.62×39 mm Ball (Mild Steel Core) (AK-47) threats. These Ultralight plates are manufactured from UHMWPE (ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene) fibres, which have largely succeeded Kevlar. UHMWPE plates are so light that they have neutral buoyancy and can actually float on water.
BPT said the new generation of armour plate is being promoted to the South African Police Service (SAPS), amongst others, as it is half the weight of their current plates, but only costs 50% more. BPT offers a range of armour solutions to meet different requirements and costs, from premium super and ultra-light solutions to heavier but cheaper steel plates. In addition to body armour, the company offers ballistic shields, which can protect against handguns and assault rifles. Since establishment in 1997, BPT has supplied more than 1.3 m body armour plates and over 2 000 armoured vehicle kits to customers around the world. The company’s main focus is on body armour plates and military vehicle armour, supplying armour to several of South Africa’s leading armoured vehicle manufacturers; BPT completes 300-500 vehicle armour sets a year, and 70-150 000 body armour panels annually. The other 5% of BPT’s turnover comes from specials, including bullet traps, shields, aircraft, ship and building armour. Materials used include ceramics, Aramid fibre, armour steel, special polymers and UHMWPE fibres. BPT is accredited by the South African National Accreditation System (SANAS) to certify ballistic testing on body armour (SANS 1658:2007 and STANAG 2920), vehicle armour (EN 1523) and military vehicle armour (STANAG 4569). This is a first for South Africa and BPT is currently the only South African company accredited to do any of this testing in their specially equipped ballistic testing facility, the company said. (Source: https://www.defenceweb.co.za/)
17 Nov 25. Castelion, a cutting-edge defense technology company, today announced it selected Sandoval County, New Mexico, as the site for Project Ranger, a 1000-acre solid rocket motor manufacturing campus dedicated to next-generation hypersonic systems. The initiative is projected to create 300 high-quality jobs and generate over $650 m in economic output over the next decade.
“New Mexico has always been front and center in shaping the frontiers of American defense and innovation,” said New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham. “This project helps carry that legacy forward — creating high-paying jobs, advancing national security and proving once again that New Mexico is where bold ideas take flight.”
Castelion plans to invest more than $100m in Project Ranger’s development, with additional capital to follow.
“After a highly competitive nationwide search, we chose New Mexico for its technical talent, regional infrastructure, and history of scientific achievement, said Andrew Kreitz, Co-founder and CFO of Castelion. “Project Ranger represents a critical step in restoring America’s capacity to produce the advanced systems our country needs. We’re proud to partner with a community with a long history of innovation that has powered some of our nation’s greatest leaps forward.”
Project Ranger will produce solid rocket motors, conduct static tests, and assemble components to produce finished rounds, reinforcing New Mexico’s position at the forefront of defense innovation.
“Throughout my time in Congress, I’ve been proud to bolster New Mexico’s bases, defense research labs, and private industry partners so we can keep excelling in emerging defense capabilities,” said New Mexico Senator Martin Heinrich. “Castelion’s new manufacturing facility in Sandoval County will strengthen our national security, grow our state’s economy, and create over 300 permanent jobs that New Mexicans can build their families around. This is a great example of what New Mexico does best: Developing cutting-edge science and technology and manufacturing it right here in our state.”
Local and regional collaboration was essential to New Mexico’s selection, driven by efforts from Sandoval County, the City of Rio Rancho, the Albuquerque Regional Economic Alliance (AREA), Sandoval Economic Alliance (SEA), and state officials.
“From the Manhattan Project to modern hypersonics, New Mexico has defined what innovation in defense technology looks like,” said Rob Black, cabinet secretary of the New Mexico Economic Development Department. “Securing this investment propels our innovation economy forward, creating high-tech careers and reinforcing our position as a hub for advanced manufacturing and national security.”
“To attract a company such as Castelion to Sandoval County is the result of hard work and commitment by the company, its site selector, and area economic development entities, government and businesses,” said Michael Meek, Sandoval County Board of Commissioners chair. “This cutting-edge defense technology company brings career opportunities to hundreds of New Mexicans through its workforce; further, its presence here will support existing local businesses and potentially make way for new ones. This is a win for the residents of Sandoval County! We welcome Castelion to New Mexico.”
“Sandoval County has demonstrated to Castelion through a rigorous site selection process that we are a solid business partner and are ready to help the company realize its vision and support its success.” said Wayne Johnson, Sandoval County manager. “We appreciate Castelion’s vote of confidence by choosing Sandoval County as its next production site for rocket motor manufacturing and look forward to a mutually beneficial business relationship.”
“Project Ranger’s decision to locate in Sandoval County is a major win for our region,” said Chad Matheson, interim president and CEO of AREA. “This announcement reflects the strength of our leadership, our public-private partnerships and further exemplifies Greater Albuquerque and New Mexico’s position as a leader in defense technology and innovation.”
“In line with Rio Rancho’s history of advanced manufacturing and New Mexico’s expertise in national defense, we look forward to welcoming Castelion to the region,” said Gregg Hull, Mayor of Rio Rancho. “Rio Rancho and New Mexico have the talented workforce to accelerate Castelion’s growth trajectory.”
About Castelion
Castelion builds affordable, long-range, hypersonic strike weapons to restore credible non-nuclear deterrence. The company was founded in late 2022 and is headquartered in Torrance, California, with additional facilities in Texas supporting propulsion, guidance, and manufacturing development. Blackbeard, the company’s first weapon system, has gone from blank sheet design to more than 20 developmental test flights in less than 18 months, demonstrating Castelion’s leadership in rapid, scalable weapons development. (Source: PR Newswire)
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About Galvion:
Galvion designs, develops, and delivers mission critical head, face, and torso protective solutions as well as intelligent power and data management systems for the world’s most demanding military and tactical teams. Founded in 2002 as Revision Military, a foundational belief in calculated investment and capability expansion led to a strategic refocus, resulting in the divestiture of the protective eyewear business, along with the Revision name, in 2019. Rebranded as Galvion, the company’s products and technology continue to evolve beyond purely passive protection, focusing instead on active systems that enhance performance and survivability, with an eye to the ever-changing demands of the modern battlefield. Through advanced design, keen end-user insight and intelligent integration, Galvion engineers uniquely customized solutions that go beyond what was once thought possible.
Privately owned with ISO 9001:2015 certified facilities in Vermont, Massachusetts and New Hampshire in the US, Montreal in Canada and Bristol in the UK, Galvion?s team of 400+ employees work proactively to solve the problems left unsolved by others.
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