Hadrian Automation on March 20 announced a $2.4 billion public-private partnership with the Navy that will result in three artificial intelligence (AI)-powered factories, with its first facility focused on producing submarine parts within a year.
The facilities are aimed at helping produce parts for the Navy’s maritime industrial base, according to a statement by Hadrian. The first of these three maritime-focused AI-powered factories is called its Factory 4 (F4) in Muscle Shoals, Ala. Hadrian plans the futuristic plant to start producing some equipment by the end of the first year, which is “four quarters” from March 20, and be at full production by the end of year two.
Factory 4 will produce components and systems for Virginia and Columbia-class submarines via artificial intelligence-aided advanced manufacturing in order to make up for limitations in hiring skilled tradespeople, the statement said.
The company statement noted some of the parts Factory 4 will build are those currently contributing to shrinking submarine cost growth and production delays.
“Using advanced manufacturing techniques, workers at the new factory will be able to mass produce components that are needed to build Virginia-class and Columbia-class submarines,” the statement said. “A dedicated production plant focused on these components frees up submarine shipyards in Rhode Island, Connecticut and Virginia to focus more resources on submarine module production, increasing capacity in the submarine industrial base.”
Factory 4 will be 2.2 million square feet, ultimately create over 1,000 jobs in Cherokee and Muscle Shoals and focus at least its first two years dedicated to work for the submarine programs, Hadrian said. The $2.4 billion in funds comes from $1.5 billion in private capital and the Navy’s $900 million investment in funds from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Exchange Monitor affiliate Defense Daily first published a version of this story.