AeroVironment Opens FreedomWerx Manufacturing Facility in Salt Lake City, Utah

AeroVironment (AV), a leader in autonomous and intelligent multi-domain systems, has announced the establishment of FreedomWerx, a 200,000-square-foot advanced manufacturing facility in Salt Lake City, Utah. The $42.25 million project will expand production of AV’s battle-proven Loitering Munitions Systems, creating over 500 high-paying jobs and strengthening Utah’s defense innovation hub.

Strategically located near Salt Lake City International Airport, FreedomWerx enhances logistics and supply chain efficiencies, supporting uninterrupted delivery of precision-strike autonomous systems to U.S. and allied defense partners. “This facility is a critical step in our mission to expand manufacturing capacity, ensuring our forces have the technological superiority needed to deter and defeat adversaries,” said Wahid Nawabi, AV chairman, president, and CEO.

The project, set to begin production in the second half of 2025, is part of AV’s distributed production strategy to ensure resilient manufacturing. Utah Governor Spencer Cox praised the initiative, stating, “AeroVironment’s investment bolsters our state’s aerospace leadership and economic growth.” The facility’s development involved collaboration with the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity, Utah Inland Port Authority, and the Economic Development Corporation of Utah.