Kratos Defense & Security Solutions has announced that its new, purpose-built Indiana Payload Integration Facility (IPIF) remains on track to become fully operational by the end of 2026. Located in Crane, Indiana, the 68,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art complex is now under roof, with construction crews actively finalizing foundations and interior structures.
Designed specifically to accelerate the development of next-generation hypersonic systems, the facility represents an investment exceeding $50 million. The IPIF’s advanced manufacturing and test capabilities are engineered for the rapid and affordable integration of experimental payloads, aiming to significantly increase the tempo of flight testing for Mach 5+ technologies. A key initial beneficiary will be the Multi-Service Advanced Capabilities Hypersonic Testbed (MACH-TB) program, for which Kratos serves as the industry team lead.
“The building’s design was heavily influenced by engineers and technicians with vast test vehicle experience, promising to accelerate throughput and provide a needed boost to the pace of hypersonic testing,” said Josh Peterson, Kratos Senior Vice President and Product Manager for Launch Vehicles. He emphasized the team’s excitement to begin processing MACH-TB payloads.
The project underscores Kratos’s commitment to expanding the nation’s critical hypersonic industrial base infrastructure. Upon completion, the facility is projected to create over 100 high-tech jobs in the Southern Indiana region, with estimated average annual wages surpassing $80,000.
“This is an important addition to the hypersonics test infrastructure near NSWC Crane and will be a national asset for the test and experimentation community,” added Mike Johns, Senior Vice President of Kratos SRE, praising the local community’s support.
Kratos positions itself as a unique provider in the hypersonic sector, delivering both propulsion systems and flyer vehicles like the Erinyes Hypersonic Flyer. The IPIF is a tangible extension of this capability, aiming to provide the U.S. military and allied nations with the disruptive, affordable, and responsive technological edge required in modern defense.
