Avio USA broke ground Sept. 29 on an approximately 900,000-square-foot solid rocket engine manufacturing complex in Hurt, Va., moving a more than $500 million advanced manufacturing investment into construction with Falls Church, Va.-based HITT Contracting as the general contractor.
Construction of the southern Virginia multimodal park is expected to be completed by the end of 2028, with production to begin in early 2029. Avio says its first US manufacturing facility will have the capacity to produce thousands of solid rocket motors annually for US tactical missile programs.
Avio told investors on September 10 that the design of the plant was progressing and orders were being placed for long-life process equipment. Public records show Dewberry engineers performed environmental and engineering work supporting the project and industrial park, including a Phase I site environmental assessment, wetlands delineation, platform survey and adjustments, and design of a gravel access drive.
“HITT has a long history of construction throughout Virginia and we are proud to bring our local aerospace manufacturing and construction expertise to Avio’s new home in Hurt,” HITT Executive Vice President Josh Foreso said in a statement. He added that the company plans to work with local commercial contractors as it delivers the facility.
“Our goal is to be an open source, independent commercial vendor capable of supporting multiple customers and programs and providing defense majors with an additional source for this critical capability,” Avio USA CEO James Syring said in a statement.
Lockheed Martin and Raytheon, an RTX company, already have agreements tied to planned production at the facility. A November 2025 term sheet gives Lockheed Martin preferential access to a portion of the plant’s capacity to meet future demand for tactical and strategic size solid rocket motors. Raytheon separately signed a memorandum of understanding that gave it preferential access to a portion of the production capacity.
Defense Systems and Solutions, a joint venture of Yulista Integrated Solutions and Science and Engineering Services, awarded Avio a three-year, approximately $65 million contract in March to develop, qualify and initially produce a solid rocket motor for air defense applications. Avio said full series production starting in 2029 could use the Virginia facility.
Avio is eligible for a special state grant of up to $97.7 million based on an investment exceeding $500 million and the creation of more than 1,000 jobs. The Virginia Tobacco Regional Revitalization Commission also approved a $7.5 million loan to the Staunton River Regional Industrial Facilities Authority for the project.
Avio USA told ENR via email on Sept. 30 that the final construction plan for the project “is still being developed and more specific details will be available at a later date.”
