ViDARR Opens New Drone Production Facility in Virginia
The 19,000-square-foot site increases local manufacturing capacity for deployable drone systems and modular aircraft.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Manufacturing
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ViDARR opened a 19,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Virginia Beach on October 1, 2026, to expand the company's production of drone systems. The site increases advanced manufacturing capacity in the Hampton Roads region and complements the firm's existing research and development operations.
Why it matters
The new facility provides additional production capacity for specialized hardware in a regional hub, signaling growth in local manufacturing infrastructure. This investment aims to meet production demand for drone systems while creating new jobs in the Hampton Roads area.
The 19,000-square-foot Virginia Beach facility joins ViDARR's R&D center in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The site is dedicated to producing the vFORGE and REAVERS drone platforms.
The players
ViDARR
A manufacturer of drone systems and unmanned aircraft with research and production operations in multiple states.
Thomas R. Richards
The late Rear Admiral who commanded SEAL Team ONE and Naval Special Warfare Command during a 30-year military career.
The details
The facility focuses on the assembly of the vFORGE drone production lab, which utilizes an ISU-90 container for deployable manufacturing. It also produces the REAVERS unmanned aircraft system, which is built on a modular, solderless platform designed for open payload architecture. These systems are engineered to allow for rapid assembly, with the REAVERS platform requiring only 30 minutes for construction.
Timeline
October 1, 2026: ViDARR opened the Virginia Beach facility.
September 2025: Rear Admiral Thomas R. Richards passed away.
Market Landscape
This expansion follows the pattern of specialized industrial growth established by the Hampton Roads economic development initiatives. It highlights the trend of decentralized drone production moving closer to military and research hubs.
Operators in the region should track local hiring trends and potential partnerships related to this new advanced manufacturing facility. The shift toward modular, solderless drone platforms reflects broader industry moves to decrease assembly times and increase supply chain flexibility.
The takeaway
This new facility reflects the ongoing scaling of modular, deployable manufacturing for unmanned systems. Managers should monitor how these rapid-assembly platforms like the 30-minute REAVERS build impact the competitive landscape for hardware procurement.
Further reading
For more on industry shifts, visit the Manufacturing section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Manila times.
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