Construction is underway on the Youngstown Innovation Hub for Aerospace & Defense, a new facility designed to expand Ohio’s advanced manufacturing capabilities and support the growing aerospace and defense industrial base. Managed by the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM), the five-story, 130,000-square-foot building will provide office, manufacturing, and collaborative workspace designed to meet Department of War contracting requirements, making it attractive to defense contractors and advanced manufacturers.
State officials estimate the project will generate more than $161 million in economic impact by 2029 while creating approximately 450 new jobs, 185 STEM credential opportunities, and 40 internships. The Hub is one of four Ohio Innovation Hubs established to drive technology commercialization and workforce development, reinforcing Youngstown’s longstanding role in additive manufacturing and positioning the region for continued growth in defense manufacturing.
Contract Opportunities: Kratos
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions has been awarded a sole-source, approximately $156 million IDIQ contract by the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Office of Secure Transportation (OST) to develop and deliver mobile counter-unmanned aircraft systems (C-UAS) under Project Solar Shield. The platforms will help protect the transport of nuclear weapons, weapon components, and other sensitive nuclear materials by detecting, tracking, identifying, and responding to potential drone threats in real time.
Unlike fixed-site counter-drone systems, Project Solar Shield is focused on providing a mobile, mission-ready capability that can support OST operations wherever they occur across the continental United States. Kratos said the integrated platform combines mobile vehicle design, command-and-control technology, power management, and C-UAS capabilities into a scalable system built for high-security missions. Work on the program is expected to begin immediately, though additional details remain limited due to the sensitive nature of the mission.
Key Employer in the Cleared Industry: Leidos
The Department of Defense continues to face growing hiring needs driven by rapid modernization efforts, evolving global threats, and the demand for advanced digital, cyber, and engineering capabilities. At Leidos, we are hiring mission-ready professionals to support critical defense programs across systems engineering, cybersecurity, and software development, cloud and data engineering, intelligence analysis, and program management—delivering secure, resilient solutions that strengthen national security and enable mission success across the globe. Apply now!
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Cleared Opportunities
PsiQuantum has signed a new $125 million agreement with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to continue work under the agency’s Quantum Benchmarking Initiative (QBI), marking the company’s largest U.S. government award to date. The performance-based agreement will fund testing and evaluation of PsiQuantum’s utility-scale quantum computing hardware, software, and supporting infrastructure, while expanding investment at its facilities in Milpitas, California, and Chicago, Illinois.
PsiQuantum remains one of just two companies participating in Stage C, the final phase of DARPA’s Quantum Benchmarking Initiative, which is designed to independently validate commercial approaches to building fault-tolerant, utility-scale quantum computers. The expanded award builds on several years of collaboration between DARPA and PsiQuantum, including extensive technical reviews, on-site testing, and system demonstrations. The announcement follows the company’s recent $100 million proposed CHIPS Act incentive agreement with the Department of Commerce as it continues to expand its partnerships across the U.S. government.
