AeroVironment (AV), the leader in autonomous and intelligent multi-domain systems, today announced the establishment of FreedomWerx, a state-of-the-art advanced manufacturing facility in Salt Lake City, Utah.

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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 Salt Lake City International Airport, the facility offers strategic access to key transportation hubs, optimizing logistics and supply chain efficiencies. AV anticipates creating more than 500 high-paying jobs, driving economic growth, and advancing Utah's position as a leader in defense innovation and advanced manufacturing.

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 Utah (EDCUtah).

“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.”

"Utah is the ideal hub for advancing aerospace and defense technologies that are vital to national security and economic growth," said Ryan Starks, executive director of the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity. "Strategic investments like this create jobs, accelerate innovation, and reinforce Utah’s leadership in aerospace and defense. Supporting companies like AV strengthens our state’s economy while driving cutting-edge advancements in the industry."

“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 Salt Lake City and contribute to Utah’s dynamic economy.”

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 U.S. and allied forces remain equipped with advanced, precision-strike solutions built for modern conflicts. As the global threat landscape shifts, AV remains committed to unmatched innovation, agility, and battlefield superiority.

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 Arlington, Virginia, AeroVironment delivers actionable intelligence so our customers can proceed with certainty. For more information, visit www.avinc.com.

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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 the United States and elsewhere in the world. For a further list and description of such risks and uncertainties, see the reports we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We do not intend, and undertake no obligation, to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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