A new $120 million naval power and propulsion facility is opening in Charleston this month, aiming to accelerate U.S. Navy shipbuilding and submarine programs, company officials said. The site will manufacture, test and assemble large components for electric power and propulsion systems used in submarines and other vessels.
Leonardo DRS says the 140,000-square-foot plant will support the Navy’s highest priority program, the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine, which is currently facing an estimated 17-month delivery delay. The facility also houses advanced manufacturing space for naval steam turbine design and testing.
Leonardo DRS officials said the investment should boost the local defense industrial base and expand domestic production capacity for ship power systems. Company executives called the facility a “national asset” that helps meet evolving fleet requirements and strengthens the industrial base.
“This strategic investment is a national asset and represents our commitment to supporting the U.S. Navy’s efforts to increase production capacity across the submarine and shipbuilding industrial base,” said Leonardo VP Jon Miller in a press release. “This advanced multi-purpose facility enables us to increase production capacity, streamline our production processes, and rapidly respond to evolving fleet requirements.”
The new Charleston plant is expected to create hundreds of jobs in the region as production ramps up, though specific hiring figures have not been finalized. It arrives as the Columbia-class program, which is projected to cost more than $130 billion for its 12-boat build, seeks to overcome supply chain and scheduling challenges.
The expanded manufacturing footprint signals growing demand for advanced naval technologies amid a push to modernize undersea and surface fleets.
The Charleston facility’s first year of operation will test its ability to help reduce delays and support broader shipbuilding needs.
