Fairbanks Morse Defense breaks ground on $60 million submarine component facility

Fairbanks Morse Defense (FMD) has broken ground on a new $60 million manufacturing facility in Pascagoula, Mississippi. The project, known as the Bird-Johnson Propeller Co. Machine Capacity Expansion, will add a 38,000-square-foot “center of excellence” to the company’s existing manufacturing complex.

The facility is designed to produce propulsors, propellers, rotors, and other critical components for Virginia-class attack submarines and next-generation surface combatants. The expansion aims to double capacity for complex naval propulsion systems and address maritime industry constraints. The project is expected to increase the local workforce by 25%, employing approximately 100 highly skilled craftspeople.

Funding for the project is a collaborative effort involving the U.S. Navy and Australia under the AUKUS security pact. The U.S. Navy is investing $27 million through its partnership with the BlueForge Alliance, while $22 million is derived from Australian contributions to the U.S. submarine industrial base. The new facility is expected to be operational by early 2028.