By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Performance Drone Works (PDW) officially cut the ribbon Wednesday on Drone Factory 01, a 90,000-square-foot manufacturing facility that cements Huntsville’s status as a leader in aerospace and defense innovation.
The new factory will focus on producing advanced, cost-effective drone systems for the U.S. military, including the C100 Multi-Mission UAS—a lightweight drone capable of reconnaissance and tactical operations—and the AM-FPV attritable munition, designed for high-risk missions where affordable systems are essential.
Company leaders said the facility is expected to bring at least 500 new jobs to Huntsville, from engineers to assembly-line workers. The move underscores the city’s growing role in national defense, already home to Redstone Arsenal and multiple aerospace firms.
“Drone Factory 01 puts Huntsville at the center of America’s drone future,” a PDW spokesperson said. “This is about building systems that are fast, affordable, and effective on tomorrow’s battlefield.”
Local officials welcomed the investment as a major win for the community. Mayor Tommy Battle praised the project’s economic impact:
“Huntsville continues to be a magnet for high-tech industries. Facilities like this mean good jobs for our residents and continued recognition of Huntsville as a national defense leader.”
The factory is also designed with scalability in mind. PDW executives said production could ramp up significantly in the coming years as the Pentagon increases demand for unmanned aerial systems.