Maker of military drone boats expands in Georgia, plans more than 200 jobs
As drones and other unmanned systems become bigger parts of defense budgets across the globe, Georgia is getting deeper into the growing sector.
Blue Ops Inc., a Florida-based manufacturer of sea drones for defense and national security agencies, said Monday it plans to create more than 200 jobs over the next several years as part of its planned factory in South Georgia.
Blue Ops has leased a former Regal Boats facility in Valdosta for a new manufacturing campus where it will build “uncrewed surface vessels” or USVs. The company will invest $30 million in developing the new facility, according to a news release from Gov. Brian Kemp’s office.
Georgia is home to many key defense industry facilities, including the Lockheed Martin factory in Marietta, and facilities from companies including Northrop Grumman, Pratt & Whitney, Raytheon Technologies and Daniel Defense.
Blue Ops is the maritime subsidiary of Utah-based defense contractor Red Cat Holdings, a maker of drone and robotic systems. The company plans to hire up to 100 people this year at the Valdosta facility on Harbin Industrial Boulevard, according to the Monday news release, with the additional jobs to follow in the years ahead.
“This investment in Valdosta is about building a modern, scalable, and domestic USV manufacturing base from the ground up,” Barry Hinckley, president of Blue Ops, said in the release. “By leveraging advanced production technologies, Blue Ops is accelerating how quickly we can deliver mission-ready maritime systems for defense and national security customers. At the same time, we will create high-quality jobs here at home, reinforcing Red Cat’s commitment to a secure, domestic supply chain.”
The war in Ukraine and conflicts in the Middle East have shown how the battlefield is rapidly evolving with drones and other robotic systems playing large roles on land, in the air and on the seas.
Blue Ops announced its lease of the Valdosta facility last fall and said at the time, given its proximity to Moody Air Force Base, that the area provided ready access to skilled workers.
“Our strategic focus on workforce development, reliable infrastructure, and pro-business environment attracts job creators to every part of the state,” Kemp said in the release. “We are excited for the opportunities Blue Ops will create for families in Valdosta-Lowndes County.”
Blue Ops is working with Haddy, a robotic 3D printing firm, with artificial intelligence-based robotic manufacturing systems at the Valdosta plant. Hulls of the unmanned vessels will be 3D printed using large scale printers.
“There’s never been a more important time to expand our defense and national security manufacturing base,” Pat Wilson, the commissioner of the state Department of Economic Development, said in the release. “Georgia’s military presence across nine installations statewide provides companies in this ecosystem with a stable foundation to grow and compete.”
Information about local incentives offered the company was not immediately available. Rebecca Marshall, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Economic Development, said Blue Ops will work with Georgia Quick Start, the state’s workforce training program, but the state did not provide a grant to the company.
Expanding companies are also often eligible for certain tax credits for new jobs created if they meet certain criteria.
In its annual financial report, Red Cat disclosed it has leased the Valdosta facility through November 2030 at a rate of nearly $49,000 per month. At the end of December, Red Cat said it had 244 employees.
The company raised more than $200 million in 2025 through a series of stock sales and ramped up its research and development and marketing spending as it expands its operations.
“Their decision to invest here shows just how strong our workforce is, the great location we offer, and the powerful partnerships that help our local economy grow,” Valdosta Mayor Scott James Matheson said in the release. “With a high-tech company like Blue Ops joining us, it’s clear that Valdosta is attracting exciting new industries and moving into advanced technology fields.”
About the Author
J. Scott Trubey is the senior editor over business, climate and environment coverage at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He previously served as a business reporter for the AJC covering banking, real estate and economic development. He joined the AJC in 2010.
