Kratos’ $50 million state-of-the-art Hypersonic System Indiana Payload Integration facility on track for 2026

IPIF Construction

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions has announced that its Indiana Payload Integration Facility (IPIF) for Hypersonic Systems located in Crane, Indiana, is on schedule to be fully mission capable by the end of 2026. The state-of-the-art facility is now under roof, and work is progressing rapidly to finalize equipment-bearing foundations and erect interior structures.

Kratos’ IPIF, which is estimated to cost more than $50 million once complete, is designed and purpose-built for rapid, affordable preparation of experimental payloads to significantly boost the tempo of flight testing for next-generation hypersonic systems and technologies and to accelerate the development of new and advanced weapons systems.

The state-of-the-art, 68,000-square-foot complex will feature advanced manufacturing and test capabilities along with enhanced workflows to boost the tempo of critical hypersonic vehicle and payload activities for programs such as the Multi-Service Advanced Capabilities Hypersonic Testbed (MACH-TB) program. The project demonstrates Kratos’ steadfast commitment to advancing hypersonic system development and expanding crucial industrial base infrastructure needed to accelerate Mach 5+ flight testing. The facility is expected to create over 100 high-tech jobs when complete, with an estimated average annual wage of $80,000+.

Josh Peterson, Senior Vice President and Product Manager for Kratos Launch Vehicles, said: “We’re pleased with the tremendous progress made so far, and extremely excited to get to work processing experiments and payloads for MACH-TB. This building’s design, which was heavily influenced by engineers and technicians with countless years of test vehicle experience, promises to accelerate throughput and provide a needed boost to the pace of hypersonic testing.”

Mike Johns, Senior Vice President of Kratos SRE, said: “This is an important addition to the hypersonics test infrastructure located near NSWC Crane and will be a national asset for the hypersonics test and experimentation community across the country. The entire community in Southern Indiana has been very helpful and supportive getting this project off the ground, and it is one of many new projects Kratos is bringing to the area.”

Dave Carter, President of Kratos Defense & Rocket Support Services, said: “Kratos is proud to be leading the MACH-TB industry team and building the facilities needed to augment our nation’s capabilities to advance hypersonic testing. The IPIF will provide needed infrastructure to accelerate the advancement of critical hypersonic technologies.”