Kratos Defense & Security Solutions has started construction on two new defense facilities in Indiana: a Navy radar repair complex and a hypersonics and laser testing site, backed by $35 million.
The company kicked things off with a joint groundbreaking ceremony at the Westgate Academy in Odon, Indiana, according to an Oct. 14 press release. Funding comes through the Department of War’s Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment (IBAS) program, with cost-sharing from Kratos.
Radar Rehab: The first build is the Indiana Radar Integration Complex (IRIC), a facility of approximately 183,000 square feet dedicated to the Navy’s AN/SPY-1 radar system.
Job: repair, testing, integration, and sustainment
Coverage: legacy and next-generation radar systems
Goals: improve Navy Fleet readiness, reduce sustainment bottlenecks, and increase critical surge capacity
Think of it as a long-term body shop for Navy radar, built to keep sustainment work from piling up.
Turning Up the Heat: The second complex, the HELIOS Arc Jet & Laser Facility, will advance next-generation directed energy technology. It will also test the thermal protection systems used on hypersonic vehicles.
Here’s what’s going inside:
A 20-25 MW arc jet capability
A 200 kW fiber laser system
Laser missions: integrated air and missile defense, counter-unmanned aircraft systems, and force protection
Kratos says Helios will bridge the gap between low-fidelity screening solutions and the large-scale arc jet facilities at government test sites. The company expects that middle ground to dramatically increase opportunities for material evaluation.
Hoosier Hardware: Dave Carter, President of Kratos Defense and Rocket Support Services, said Indiana has “the mission, talent, partnerships, and industrial commitment” to become an even more significant contributor to national defense.
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