Castelion breaks ground on Project Ranger, advancing scaled hypersonic manufacturing in New Mexico

Castelion launched Project Ranger, a 1,000-acre hypersonic manufacturing campus in Sandoval County, designed to support high-cadence production of hypersonic strike systems. The project will create approximately 300 high-paying manufacturing jobs and represent more than $220 million in private investment, with an estimated $650 million in economic impact for New Mexico over the next decade.

The Project Ranger groundbreaking, attended by New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, U.S. Army Portfolio Acquisition Executive Fires Lt. General Frank Lozano, Director of NAVAIR's Rapid Capabilities Cell Paul McGinty, and other regional and county leaders, marks a major step in scaling domestic hypersonic manufacturing capacity.

© Castelion | https://www.castelion.com/

“This is economic development in New Mexico—high-tech companies bringing high-paying jobs,” says Governor Michell Lujan Grisham. “Castelion chose our site because we have the workforce, the expertise and infrastructure they need to succeed.”

Project Ranger will support solid rocket motor manufacturing, static testing, and final assembly of hypersonic weapons, reinforcing New Mexico's position at the forefront of defense innovation. The first building will be completed this summer, with all twenty-one buildings on the campus complete and ready for production by the end of 2026.

“We chose New Mexico for its unparalleled technical talent and history of scientific achievement,” says Bryon Hargis, CEO and co-founder of Castelion. “Project Ranger represents a renaissance in American manufacturing, delivering the advanced systems our country needs. We're proud to partner with a community that has powered some of our nation's greatest leaps forward. We have a bright future together.”

“I'm pleased to welcome the groundbreaking of Castelion's new manufacturing facility in Sandoval County that will strengthen our national security, grow our state's economy, and create over 300 permanent jobs that New Mexicans can build their families around,” says U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich. “This is a great example of what New Mexico does best: Developing cutting-edge science and technology and manufacturing it right here in our state. As New Mexico's senior senator, I will keep working to further bolster New Mexico's bases, defense research labs, and private industry partners so we can keep excelling in emerging defense capabilities.”

“Today marks the continued evolution of New Mexico's innovation economy, demonstrating that New Mexico is the next frontier for technologies that are essential for our economy and our national security,” says Rob Black, Cabinet Secretary of the New Mexico Economic Development Department. “Castelion also adds a new layer of career opportunities for the next generation of New Mexicans who can add building really cool rockets as a potential career in their home state.”

Also, Manufacturo, a manufacturing software platform designed for high-complexity, high-mix production environments, has partnered with Castelion to establish a modern digital backbone for scalable, traceable weapons production.

“Castelion is proving that deterrence can be strengthened with systems that are advanced and affordable - but that only works if manufacturing keeps up,” says Kenzo Takai, COO, Manufacturo. “Our platform is built for exactly this kind of environment, where rapid iteration, strict configuration control, and complete build history all have to coexist without slowing the team down.”

“To field hypersonic strike weapons at the scale national security demands, we have to treat manufacturability as a first-order requirement, not an afterthought,” says Bobby Panerio, head of manufacturing, Castelion. “Manufacturo supports a production system that matches our engineering pace while staying flexible enough to handle rapid design change.”