Micron expands US chip production with $2 billion Virginia DRAM fab

Micron Technology has begun fabricating its 1‑alpha DRAM memory at the Manassas, Virginia plant, marking the first production of this advanced DDR4‑compatible process on U.S. soil. The expansion involves a $2 billion investment, of which $275 million comes from the CHIPS and Science Act, and is expected to quadruple the site’s DDR4 wafer output by the end of the year.

The new capacity is aimed at easing a tight DDR4 supply that has emerged as major DRAM makers shift to DDR5, LPDDR5X and high‑bandwidth memory for AI workloads. Automotive, defense, aerospace, industrial and medical‑device customers – which rely on long‑life DDR4 parts – could face price spikes of up to 100 % in 2026, according to market analysts. Micron’s Virginia fab will create more than 3,100 direct manufacturing and community jobs, and is part of a broader $200 billion U.S. investment plan that includes new facilities in Idaho (operational by mid‑2027) and New York (construction started 2026). Across all three sites the company projects about 90 000 direct and indirect jobs.

The move is presented as a strategic step for U.S. national security and competitiveness, ensuring a domestic supply of critical memory for automotive, defense and aerospace systems.