Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, through its U.S. subsidiary, has announced a significant expansion of its production capacity at its remote weapon systems facility in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.
As part of a 10-year lease extension, the company plans to invest $10 million in infrastructure upgrades and will hire an additional 20 employees to meet growing demand for its advanced defense systems.
“Our continued investments as a company in Pennsylvania are a testament to the highly skilled workforce that has been producing these systems for 20 years at a level of quality and reliability that no other producer of remote weapon stations can match,” said Kjetil Reiten Myhra, Executive Vice President of Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace’s Defence Systems Division. “Johnstown is home to Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace’s largest production facility outside of Norway and that wouldn’t be possible without the ongoing support of the community.”
The Johnstown facility, which spans 235,000 square feet, is a key site for Kongsberg’s global operations. Since its establishment in 2008, the facility has produced over 20,000 remote weapon stations and nearly 100 remote turrets. The facility currently employs more than 220 workers and is vital in supplying the U.S. military and allied nations with cutting-edge defense technology.
Kongsberg’s remote weapon systems are integral to a wide range of U.S. military platforms. The expanded production space will primarily support the manufacturing of the Marine Corps’ Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV-30) gun system, featuring a 30 mm auto cannon mounted on a Kongsberg remotely operated turret. Additionally, the facility continues to produce systems for the Marine Corps’ Marine Air Defense Integrated System (MADIS) and the Army’s Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station (CROWS).
Heather Armentrout, President and General Manager of Kongsberg Defense and Aerospace Inc., emphasized the importance of the Johnstown facility in meeting increasing global demand. “KONGSBERG remote weapon systems play a critical role in the defense and security of the U.S. military and its allies, and our incredible team in this region will allow us to expand and increase the rate at which we can supply these systems,” Armentrout said.
In addition to production, the Johnstown facility has been involved in the repair and refurbishment of legacy remote weapon systems. This capability enables Kongsberg to provide long-term support for the systems it produces, ensuring that they remain operationally effective for years to come.
As global threats evolve, Kongsberg’s leadership has stressed the importance of maintaining a robust U.S. supply chain and increasing production capabilities to meet the rapid delivery timelines required by today’s defense environment. “The global threat environment is driving more sophisticated capabilities and more aggressive delivery timelines, and it is paramount that we, along with our key suppliers, make the investments needed to more rapidly provide these key capabilities,” Armentrout added.
With the expansion, Kongsberg is poised to strengthen its support for the U.S. military and its partners, contributing to enhanced defense readiness in an increasingly complex global security landscape.