Midwest Defense Innovations
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Chip Megasite in Ohio
Intel has announced that construction of its chip-manufacturing “mega-site” in Ohio will continue despite recent delays. Module 1, the first of its factories, is estimated to begin semiconductor production potentially as early as 2030, with a second factory in development for 2032. Once complete, Intel’s Ohio One facility will span nearly 1,000 acres and be able to accommodate as many as 8 factories, including both of its new advanced semiconductor fabrication plants.
Anduril's Arsenal-1 in Ohio
Anduril Industries, a high-capability weapons systems manufacturer, is investing $900 million to develop Arsenal-1, a large-scale construction facility in Ohio.
Securing the Renewable Energy Grid in Iowa
The Department of Energy has awarded Iowa State University a $2.5 million grant to establish CyDERMS, the Center for Cybersecurity and Resiliency of DERs and Microgrids. The new center’s goal is to protect renewable energy grids across the Midwest from cyberattacks and other hazards.
International Maritime Partnerships in Michigan
The Michigan Maritime Manufacturing (M3) Initiative, announced in July 2024, is making major progress. The new training program includes partnerships with defense manufacturers in South Korea, accelerated training programs, and industry-recognized certifications. M3 represents an investment of over $50 million to revitalize the Midwest’s Maritime Industrial Base and meet the Navy’s demand for thousands of new workers across the region.
Hypersonic Technology Research In Indiana
Kratos Defense and Security Solutions broke ground on their new $50 million Hypersonic System Indiana Payload Integration Facility (IPIF) in Crane, Indiana, in March 2025. The new facility will allow Kratos to assemble, test, and design advanced weapons systems at an accelerated pace.
Amphibious Assault Vehicles Built In Mighigan
A Bae Systems plant in Sterling Heights, Michigan, will be building amphibious assault vehicles for the U.S. Marine Corps. The award covers vehicle production, and the procurement of ACV Personnel (ACV-P) variants, fielding and sustainment costs, and support and test equipment. These vehicles will allow the U.S. Marine Corps to execute operations around the world.
Unmanned Underwater Vehicle Program at Purdue University
Purdue University has begun a new program called BoilerSub, which allows engineering students to design and build an autonomous underwater vehicle. BoilerSubs is Purdue’s chapter of the international RoboSub competition, where Purdue students can test their vehicle in international competitions.
Quad Cities Manufacturing Institute (QCMI)
Quad Cities Manufacturing Institute (QCMI): A new institute created through a partnership between Western Illinois University, the University of Illinois, and Iowa State University to focus on research, development, and workforce development in the manufacturing sector. QCMI aims to foster growth with the U.S. Army’s Rock Island Arsenal installation. Work that will be conducted at the institute includes materials research for the Department of Defense. This research aims to advance the safety of U.S. Army personnel, equipment, and facilities.
Indiana and Oklahoma National Guard Announce Partnership with Saudi Arabia
The Indiana and Oklahoma National Guard will partner with the Saudi military through the National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program. The Indiana and Oklahoma National Guard will conduct military-to-military drills and enhance diplomatic and security cooperation with the U.S. and Saudi Arabia.
Microsoft will invest $3.3B in cloud computing and AI infrastructure in Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin
The $3.3B investment is scheduled to be rolled out by the end of 2026 as the first step in Microsoft’s four-part long-term plan. The datacenter is the focus of this investment and will be built alongside a data center academy for training and certification. A total of 2,000 data-related jobs will be added.
Ohio Innovation Hub for Aerospace and Defense
$62 million is being invested in the Ohio Innovation Hub for Aerospace and Defense. This project in Youngstown, Ohio, was funded with $26 million from the Ohio Innovation Hubs Programme and $36 million from private investors. It will focus on increasing research, development, and commercialization of additive technology to establish itself as a national hub.
Amazon's $11B Data Center Investment in Indiana
Amazon is making the largest capital investment in Indiana’s history. A data center worth $11 billion is being built in St. Joseph County for Amazon’s Web Services program. This data center will generate over 1,000 new jobs for the community and help develop local infrastructure.
$325 million in CHIPS Act funding coming to Michigan
Michigan-based Hemlock Semiconductor is investing $325 million in hyper-pure polysilicon production with CHIPS Act funding. This investment will enable Hemlock Semiconductor to build a new manufacturing facility, increasing its output of critical semiconductor resources.
Building Next Generation Frigates in Wisconsin
Fincantieri Marinette Marine is building the Navy’s next-generation Constellation-class frigate at its yard in Marinette, WI. This $5.5B contract with the Navy to produce 10 frigates has led Fincantieri to set a goal of hiring 500 additional employees and continue facility expansions to accommodate the even greater needs of the United States military.
Adaptive Autonomous Underwater Vehicles at the University of Michigan
Researchers at the University of Michigan are developing dynamically programmable outer skins for unmanned aerial and underwater vehicles based on golf balls. By actively adjusting the dimpled skin of an underwater vehicle, the vehicle can increase maneuverability and eliminate the need for exterior rudders or fins. Drag can be reduced by 50%, reducing fuel consumption and allowing for longer and more energy-efficient missions.
Chip Manufacturing Coming to Indiana
South Korean company SK hynix selected Purdue Research Park as the site for its $4B advanced packaging fabrication plant and R&D facility for AI products. The new facility will mass-produce the next generation high-bandwidth memory chips, which are the critical component of graphic processing units that train AI systems such as ChatGPT.
Northwestern Researchers Synthesize New Micro-Polymer
Researchers at Northwestern University have synthesized a new micro-polymer structure that could revolutionize the body armor industry with lightweight, ultradurable alternatives. There are clear defense implications to this new material. It’s lightweight yet durable structure means it could be extremely valuable in the creation of new kinds of effective, lightweight body armor, keeping warfighters safe and unencumbered on the battlefield.
Camp Atterbury Tests New Defense Technologies
Technology Experiment 2024, or T-REX, was held in Indiana for the second consecutive year, jointly sponsored by the Department of Defense and the Indiana National Guard. $450 million was allocated to the project. The Tempest-50, built by Firestorm Labs, as well as signal devices, cybersecurity protection, counterintelligence, and surveillance devices, were tested.
Valqari Developing Cloud-Based Drone Delivery System
Valqari, based in Illinois, is developing a cloud-based drone delivery system that can securely deliver packages for commercial and defense applications. A proprietary landing pad developed by Valqari contains an identification signal to help aerial vehicles find their landing pads. Additionally, these pads contain a secure storage compartment that only opens upon receiving a signal from an authorized aerial vehicle. The flexibility of Valqari’s drone solutions and landing pads allows for delivery across terrains and can provide critical resources to battlefields and remote locations.
Barron Industries to Invest $9.1 Million into Advanced Aerospace Manufacturing Center in Michigan
This project will expand Barron Industries campus in Oxford, Michigan. The company, which specializes in metal castings for major manufacturers in the defense and aerospace industry, will create 50 new jobs through the project. The Michigan Strategic Fund (MSF) will award the company a $900,000 Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant to help support the project.