AeroVironment (AV) has announced a $15 million investment to expand advanced production capabilities in Greene County, Ohio, strengthening its domestic manufacturing footprint and supporting growth across critical defense programs.
The expansion, located near Dayton, includes the development of approximately 44,000 square feet of new production space across sites in Beavercreek and Xenia. The facilities are designed to support pilot-scale and mid-volume manufacturing of advanced biotechnology materials and components, alongside integration and testing activities aligned with national security priorities.
As part of the project, $7 million of the total investment has been approved by the Ohio Tax Credit Authority. The initiative is expected to create around 200 jobs and generate an estimated $28 million annually in regional economic impact, supported by collaboration with JobsOhio and the Ohio Department of Development.
The expansion will support key programmes, including advanced biotechnology manufacturing in collaboration with the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), and is positioned to meet growing demand for scalable biomanufacturing and mission-critical systems.
“Dayton and the surrounding community is where some of the nation’s most important advanced research and defense innovation is happening, and proximity to the customer matters,” said Wahid Nawabi, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer at AV. “Being close to AFRL and the broader defense innovation ecosystem allows our teams to collaborate faster, transition technology more rapidly, and deliver advanced capabilities directly aligned with mission needs.”
The facilities will initially support pilot-scale production, with the flexibility to scale to full-rate manufacturing as demand increases. The sites are designed to accommodate future workforce and production growth without disrupting ongoing operations.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine stated: “AV’s decision to expand in Greene County is another powerful signal that Ohio is the place where America’s most advanced aerospace and defense companies can thrive. From Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and the AFRL to the skilled men and women at work in Dayton every day, Ohio provided the strategic advantage and partnerships to bring these 200 new, mission-critical jobs to its cutting-edge facility.”
The expansion builds on recent AFRL contract wins for AV, including:
- $499 million contract for electromagnetic spectrum survivable materials
- $75 million contract for biotech and smart materials
- $25 million award for human performance and biotechnology capabilities
- $20 million award for next-generation ceramic materials
The Greene County project forms part of AV’s broader strategy to scale domestic manufacturing, strengthen supply-chain resilience, and invest in skilled technical workforces across the United States.
Recent expansions include a $30 million investment in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to establish a next-generation manufacturing campus, and a $20.2 million expansion in Huntsville, Alabama, supporting production of the Freedom Eagle-1 (FE-1) system.
“AV’s expansion in Beavercreek and Xenia is a vote of confidence in Ohio’s skilled manufacturing workforce, world-class aerospace and defense innovation sector, and our ability to help great companies move from prototype to production with speed and precision,” said JobsOhio President and CEO J.P. Nauseef. This investment deepens AV’s commitment to the Dayton region and reinforces what we hear from companies every day: Ohio is the right place to build the next generation of national security technology.”
