Indiana partners with defense firm on hypersonic weapons research center
CRANE, Ind. (WISH) — Indiana officials on Tuesday joined a defense contractor to break ground on a facility that will support the research and development of hypersonic weapons.
San Diego-based Kratos Defense & Security Solutions‘ $50 million facility will be built at the WestGate@Crane Technology Park. That’s just outside the Indiana town of Crane in Daviess County, and near the Naval Surface Warfare Center-Crane Division.
A news release from the state government says the Indiana Payload Integration Facility, which will have an Odon address, expects to create more than 100 jobs. The 68,000-square-foot building is expected to open by the end of 2026.
The facility will be part of a U.S. Defense Department program designed to accelerate the development and testing of hypersonic technologies. Hypersonic weapons can travel at Mach 5, or five times the speed of sound.
The state government’s Indiana Economic Development Corp. has committed to Kratos up to $9 million in incentive-based tax credits, up to $7 million in regional development tax credits, and up to $2 million in conditional structured performance payments.
