Avio Shortlists US States for Rocket Motor Facility
Italian aerospace manufacturer Avio has narrowed its search for the location of a new solid rocket motor production facility in the United States, according to a recent report titled “Italy’s Avio shortlists three US states for new rocket motor factory,” published by Defense News. The move marks a strategic effort by the company to expand its industrial footprint and better align itself with U.S. defense and space markets.
The company, based in Colleferro near Rome, has reportedly shortlisted three states—Florida, Alabama, and Arkansas—as potential sites for the plant. Final site selection is expected in the coming months. Avio is primarily known in Europe as the manufacturer of solid propulsion systems for space launchers such as the Vega and Ariane series, as well as for its work on European defense missile programs like Aster.
Defense News cited a company spokeswoman who noted that the investment aims to support U.S. space launch initiatives and potentially contribute to missile programs, both independently and in collaboration with American firms. The U.S.-based facility would enable Avio to qualify for local production content requirements often attached to Pentagon and NASA contracts—growing prerequisites as Washington networks more tightly with domestic suppliers.
The prospective expansion follows Avio’s earlier efforts to internationalize its operations. A joint venture between Avio and Northrop Grumman, dubbed NGL Propulsion Services, already operates on a limited basis in the United States, and company executives have signaled increasing interest in penetrating the lucrative U.S. defense market. Northrop Grumman is also a key partner in the production of strategic missile systems for the U.S. government, further underlining Avio’s potential value as an allied supplier.
Avio’s step into U.S. territory comes amid a broader transatlantic shift in defense industrial cooperation, as NATO allies seek to strengthen industrial supply chains across borders in response to geopolitical instability and rising global demand for strategic missile systems. A physical presence in the United States would not only reduce regulatory and logistical hurdles but also provide Avio with improved access to government programs requiring onshore production.
While details concerning the size of the investment and number of jobs expected to be created are still under wraps, local officials in the three shortlisted states are reportedly in discussions with the company over incentives and logistics.
For Avio, securing a U.S.-based production site would amount to a significant milestone in its bid to become a global player not just in commercial rocketry, but in the wider defense aerospace sector. As U.S. demand for rocket propulsion systems continues to soar, European firms like Avio appear eager to secure a place at the table—by building their own facilities on American soil.
