Carol Johnson, Southern Indiana Business Report
BLOOMFIELD – A munitions campus that will close a critical gap in the nation’s industrial defense base was heralded as a major milestone that will expand domestic production of munitions during a groundbreaking Thursday.
The National Security Industrial Hub will be built in Greene County near Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division and Crane Army Ammunition Activity. The American Center for Manufacturing & Innovation will construct the munitions campus, an 1,100-acre development in Bloomfield.
State and federal officials, defense industry executives and leaders from NSWC and CAAA gathered for the historic groundbreaking. In addition to being vital for national security, the development will bring hundreds of jobs to southern Indiana.
Prometheus Energetics, a partnership between Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Inc. and Raphael Advance Defense Systems, will serve as the anchor and primary tenant, occupying about 550 acres on the campus. The two companies committed an initial investment of $175 million to establish Prometheus in Indiana. Prometheus will manufacture solid rocket motors.
“Prometheus Energetics was designed with a clear purpose, to address real gaps in solid rocket motors and energetics. Not theoretical gaps, not future gaps but real present needs for our country and its allies,” said Dan Merenda, COO of Prometheus Energetics. “This facility was designed for reliable, safe production.”
The company has established its initial operations in Bloomington, including office space and early hiring activities, while construction of the manufacturing campus is underway. Development of the site is occurring in phases, enabling the establishment of near-term production capability while expanding overall capacity over time. Initial SRM production is projected to begin in 2027. Prometheus expects to support 375 workers in Indiana by the end of 2032 across its headquarters and production operations.
About 175 people attended the groundbreaking, which included remarks from Indiana Gov. Mike Braun, US Sen. Todd Young, US Sen. Jim Banks and US Rep. Mark Messmer.
“Prometheus’ decision to locate its headquarters and first production facility in Indiana solidifies our state as a critical part of the country’s national security efforts,” said Braun in a video message. “The company’s new presence here and the broader collaboration across the Munitions Campus Program and with NSWC Crane will advance the country’s defense capabilities while supporting economic growth, workforce development and high-quality career opportunities in our rural communities.”
Several speakers noted that proximity to Crane was a critical advantage with Indiana’s selection for the munitions campus, but it wasn’t the only factor.
The state’s strong reputation in manufacturing and residents who take pride in making things were other factors. Michael Johns, senior vice president for Kratos, said the team visited 40 locations in 14 states before selecting Bloomfield, Indiana. He said the Greene County community “showed up and leaned in” to play its part in developing the munitions campus.
“This is not just another industrial park, this represents a new model for the advanced manufacturing of munitions,” ACMI CEO David Dowell said.
Banks said the campus moves the state in a new direction.
“The rest of Indiana is about to figure something out and that’s how big of a deal this announcement is. Prometheus is a generational investment into America’s defense industrial base,” Banks said.
Prometheus’ facility is expected to attract additional companies involved in the subcomponent supply chain to ACMI’s NSIH and Munitions Campus, which provides a site and capabilities to lower barriers to entry for new startups into the segment while enabling established companies to rapidly test, refine and collaborate on technologies.
Prometheus’ new facility will also complement Kratos’ new $50 million facility in nearby Odon, which is under construction. Together, with ACMI’s NSIH, these operations will support the company’s commitment to advancing national security through cutting-edge aerospace solutions, including the development and deployment of next-generation hypersonic technologies. The two operations will significantly advance Indiana’s defense sector and create nearly 500 new, high-wage career opportunities in rural Indiana.
Based on the company’s job creation and investment plans, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) committed an investment in Prometheus of up to $10 million in the form of incentive-based tax credits, up to $250,000 in workforce training grants, up to $2 million in conditional redevelopment tax credits and up to $2 million in conditional structured performance payments. These incentives are performance-based, meaning the company is eligible to claim state benefits once jobs are created.