Kratos Defense & Security Solutions has announced that construction of its Indiana Payload Integration Facility (IPIF) for Hypersonic Systems, located in Crane, Indiana, has been completed ahead of schedule.
Kratos’ IPIF, a $50 million state-of-the-art facility, is designed and purpose-built for rapid, affordable preparation of experimental payloads to significantly boost the tempo of flight testing for next-generation hypersonic systems and technologies, and to accelerate the development of new and advanced weapons systems.
Kratos is at the forefront of hypersonic and advanced technology development and testing, providing affordable, high-performance solutions to meet the needs of the U.S. military and allied nations. Kratos is the only company delivering both propulsion and flyer systems, which includes Kratos’ low-cost Erinyes Hypersonic Flyer, Dark Fury, Zeus, and Oriole Solid Rocket Motors, along with other Kratos systems and technologies.
The 68,000-square-foot facility is fully equipped to perform advanced manufacturing, integration, and testing of experimental hypersonic payloads. The IPIF engineering team will utilize enhanced workflows to simultaneously integrate, test, and prepare up to six experimental payloads for critical hypersonic vehicles supporting programs like the Multi-Service Advanced Capabilities Hypersonic Testbed (MACH-TB). This new facility demonstrates Kratos’ steadfast commitment to advancing hypersonic system development and expanding the industrial base needed to accelerate Mach 5+ flight testing. The facility is expected to create over 100 high-tech jobs, with an estimated average annual wage of $80,000+, and significant hiring is already underway.
Mike Johns, Vice President of Kratos SRE, stated:
“The IPIF investment in southern Indiana brings online a national asset and critically needed infrastructure to rapidly scale the cadence of hypersonic testing in the United States. The facility will be a gathering place for the most advanced technologies and companies in hypersonics.”
Dave Carter, President of Kratos Defense & Rocket Support Services, added:
“Kratos’ infrastructure expansion near the Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division is part of our strategy to establish an advanced defense hub in Southern Indiana. We are building strategic, purpose-built facilities that enhance U.S. defense and aerospace capabilities.”
