Northrop Grumman has opened a 57,000 ft² propulsion facility in Elkton, Maryland, housing 250 engineers working on advanced propulsion technologies for US and allied defence programmes.
The Propulsion Innovation Center expands the company’s solid rocket motor capacity across its propulsion manufacturing network and is expected to create additional skilled engineering and manufacturing jobs in the state.
The investment comes as demand grows for tactical missile and hypersonic propulsion technologies, Northrop Grumman said.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore joined company executives, employees, local officials and industry partners at a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the opening.
The centre forms part of a broader $100 million investment at Northrop Grumman’s Elkton site aimed at increasing capacity for hypersonic air-breathing propulsion and solid rocket motors.
Alongside other construction, modernisation and infrastructure upgrades at the company’s 550-acre Propulsion Systems & Controls site, the investment is expected to increase on-site solid rocket motor design and manufacturing capacity by 25% and support more than 30% growth in staffing.
