Blue Ops Taps Hodgdon Shipbuilding for USV Prototypes; Leases Georgia Factory to Scale U.S. Production
Red Cat Holdings (NASDAQ: RCAT) announced significant manufacturing and facility expansions for its maritime division, Blue Ops. The company has partnered with Hodgdon Shipbuilding to produce its first five uncrewed surface vessel (USV) prototypes in Maine, while also leasing a 155,000-square-foot facility in Valdosta, Georgia for full-scale production.
The expansion includes the construction of a 7-meter USV prototype and establishment of a new headquarters in West Palm Beach, Florida. The Georgia facility, strategically located near Moody Air Force Base, is expected to create hundreds of jobs and enable production of hundreds of USVs annually. The partnership with Hodgdon Shipbuilding, America's oldest continuous boatbuilder, brings over 200 years of maritime manufacturing expertise to the project.
Red Cat Holdings (NASDAQ: RCAT) ha annunciato importanti ampliamenti produttivi e di struttura per la sua divisione marittima, Blue Ops. L'azienda collaborerà con Hodgdon Shipbuilding per realizzare i primi cinque prototipi di veicoli di superficie senza equipaggio (USV) nel Maine, e ha inoltre preso in affitto una struttura di 155.000 piedi quadrati a Valdosta, Georgia per la produzione su scala completa.
L'espansione prevede la costruzione di un prototipo USV da 7 metri e l'istituzione di una nuova sede centrale a West Palm Beach, Florida. La struttura in Georgia, posizionata strategicamente vicino alla Moody Air Force Base, dovrebbe generare centinaia di posti di lavoro e permettere la produzione annuale di centinaia di USV. La partnership con Hodgdon Shipbuilding, il più antico cantiere navale statunitense in attività continua, apporta oltre 200 anni di esperienza nella produzione marittima al progetto.
Red Cat Holdings (NASDAQ: RCAT) anunció ampliaciones significativas en fabricación e instalaciones para su división marítima, Blue Ops. La compañía se asoció con Hodgdon Shipbuilding para producir sus primeros cinco prototipos de vehículos de superficie no tripulados (USV) en Maine, y además ha alquilado una instalación de 155.000 pies cuadrados en Valdosta, Georgia para la producción a escala completa.
La expansión incluye la construcción de un prototipo USV de 7 metros y el establecimiento de una nueva sede en West Palm Beach, Florida. La instalación en Georgia, ubicada estratégicamente cerca de la base aérea Moody Air Force Base, se espera que genere cientos de puestos de trabajo y permita la producción de cientos de USV anualmente. La alianza con Hodgdon Shipbuilding, el astillero en funcionamiento continuo más antiguo de Estados Unidos, aporta más de 200 años de experiencia en fabricación marítima al proyecto.
Red Cat Holdings (NASDAQ: RCAT)는 해양 부문 Blue Ops의 제조 및 시설을 대대적으로 확장한다고 발표했습니다. 회사는 Hodgdon Shipbuilding과 협력해 메인 주에서 최초 5척의 무인 수상함(USV) 시제품을 제작하고, 대규모 생산을 위해 조지아주 발도스타의 155,000 평방피트 시설을 임대했습니다.
이번 확장에는 7미터급 USV 시제품 건조와 플로리다 웨스트팜비치에 새 본사 설립이 포함됩니다. 무디 공군 기지(Moody Air Force Base) 인근에 전략적으로 위치한 조지아 시설은 수백 개의 일자리를 창출하고 연간 수백 척의 USV를 생산할 수 있을 것으로 예상됩니다. 미국에서 가장 오래된 연속 선박 건조업체인 Hodgdon Shipbuilding과의 파트너십은 200년이 넘는 해양 제조 전문성을 프로젝트에 제공합니다.
Red Cat Holdings (NASDAQ: RCAT) a annoncé d'importantes extensions de ses capacités de fabrication et de ses installations pour sa division maritime, Blue Ops. La société s'est associée à Hodgdon Shipbuilding pour produire ses cinq premiers prototypes de navires de surface sans équipage (USV) dans le Maine, et loue également une installation de 155 000 pieds carrés à Valdosta, en Géorgie pour la production à grande échelle.
Cette expansion comprend la construction d'un prototype USV de 7 mètres et l'établissement d'un nouveau siège social à West Palm Beach, en Floride. L'installation en Géorgie, idéalement située près de la base aérienne Moody Air Force Base, devrait créer des centaines d'emplois et permettre la production annuelle de centaines d'USV. Le partenariat avec Hodgdon Shipbuilding, le plus ancien chantier naval américain en activité continue, apporte plus de 200 ans d'expertise en fabrication maritime au projet.
Red Cat Holdings (NASDAQ: RCAT) hat erhebliche Erweiterungen in Fertigung und Anlagen für seine maritime Sparte Blue Ops angekündigt. Das Unternehmen arbeitet mit Hodgdon Shipbuilding zusammen, um die ersten fünf Prototypen von unbemannten Oberflächenfahrzeugen (USV) im Bundesstaat Maine zu fertigen, und hat zusätzlich eine 155.000 Quadratfuß große Anlage in Valdosta, Georgia für die Serienproduktion angemietet.
Die Expansion umfasst den Bau eines 7-Meter-USV-Prototyps sowie die Einrichtung eines neuen Hauptsitzes in West Palm Beach, Florida. Die Anlage in Georgia, strategisch nahe der Moody Air Force Base gelegen, soll Hunderte von Arbeitsplätzen schaffen und die jährliche Produktion von Hunderten von USVs ermöglichen. Die Partnerschaft mit Hodgdon Shipbuilding, dem ältesten durchgehend betriebenen Werftbetrieb Amerikas, bringt über 200 Jahre maritime Fertigungskompetenz in das Projekt ein.
- Strategic expansion with 155,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Georgia
- Partnership with Hodgdon Shipbuilding, America's oldest continuous boatbuilder
- Potential to manufacture hundreds of USVs annually
- Expected creation of hundreds of skilled jobs in Georgia
- Strategic location near Moody Air Force Base providing access to defense-ready workforce
- Significant capital investment required for multiple facility expansions
- Early prototype phase indicates revenue generation may be distant
Insights
Red Cat's Blue Ops division establishes strategic manufacturing infrastructure for USV production, positioning for significant defense contract potential.
This announcement marks a significant strategic positioning by Red Cat Holdings through its maritime division Blue Ops, establishing a comprehensive domestic manufacturing infrastructure for uncrewed surface vessels (USVs). The company is creating a complete production pipeline with three strategic locations: prototype development with Hodgdon Shipbuilding in Maine, full-scale production at a 155,000-square-foot facility in Georgia, and a headquarters/showroom in Florida.
The partnership with Hodgdon Shipbuilding is particularly noteworthy as it combines America's oldest continuous shipbuilder (founded in 1816) with modern autonomous maritime technology. This provides Blue Ops with immediate credibility and centuries of maritime construction expertise while bypassing the need to develop shipbuilding capabilities from scratch. The operational continuity is further strengthened by Sandy Spaulding's role on the Blue Ops leadership team, having previously served in executive positions at Hodgdon.
The Georgia facility near Moody Air Force Base represents the most substantial investment, designed to achieve full-rate production capacity of "hundreds of USVs per year." This manufacturing scale suggests Blue Ops anticipates significant defense procurement opportunities. The facility's location provides access to defense-experienced workforce, logistics infrastructure, and aligns with national security priorities to strengthen domestic defense manufacturing.
From a defense industrial base perspective, this expansion directly supports the Pentagon's increasing focus on unmanned maritime systems for distributed operations. By establishing this three-tiered infrastructure approach (R&D prototyping, full-scale production, and customer engagement), Red Cat is positioning Blue Ops to capture market share in the rapidly expanding autonomous maritime systems sector that forms a critical component of the U.S. Navy's distributed maritime operations concept.
Facilities in Maine and Georgia lay foundation for rapid growth, full-rate production, and U.S.-based maritime defense innovation
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, Sept. 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Red Cat Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: RCAT) (“Red Cat” or the “Company”), a U.S.-based provider of advanced all-domain drone and robotic solutions for defense and national security, today announced key manufacturing and facility expansions for its maritime division, Blue Ops, Inc. The announcement was made at DSEI UK 2025, a premier global defense and security exhibition.
As part of its mission to deliver a family of battle-tested USV weapons systems for multi-domain operations, Blue Ops has partnered with Hodgdon Shipbuilding to produce the first five uncrewed surface vessel prototypes at its facilities in the Boothbay Region and in Damariscotta, Maine. In addition to prototype construction, Hodgdon Shipbuilding will serve as a research and development site for Blue Ops as it continues to iterate and refine mission-specific variants of its USV platforms.
Blue Ops has leased a 155,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Valdosta, Georgia, establishing a major new production hub to support and scale full-rate manufacturing of its USV’s. The investment is expected to create hundreds of skilled jobs in the region and bolster Georgia’s role in America’s growing defense industrial base. The company also will be opening a headquarters and customer showroom in West Palm Beach, Florida to support operations and customer engagement.
“Blue Ops is building a scalable, modular USV weapons system designed to meet the evolving operational needs of the U.S. and allied forces,” said Barry Hinckley, President of Blue Ops. “Our domestic pipeline is starting with prototyping in Maine, and we’re well positioned to rapidly scale through our manufacturing facilities in Georgia to build hundreds of USV’s a year. This structure, supported by executive operations, enables us to deliver battle-proven platforms that support rapid fielding, system integration, and multi-domain adaptability.”
Fueling U.S. Manufacturing Strength and Maritime Innovation
The new Georgia facility is a strategic investment that will help expand U.S. maritime production and support defense supply chain resilience. Located near Moody Air Force Base, the site provides access to a defense-ready workforce, regional logistics, and infrastructure essential for local economic development. This move aligns with the White House’s broader commitment to revitalize domestic manufacturing and restore American leadership in shipbuilding and autonomous systems.
Legacy Craftsmanship Meets Modern Defense
In partnership with Blue Ops, Hodgdon Shipbuilding has begun construction of the first Blue Ops 7-meter USV prototype. Hodgdon is the oldest continuously operating boatbuilder in the United States. Founded in 1816 and operating out of the Boothbay region and Damariscotta, Maine, the fifth and sixth-generation family-owned company has deep experience across yacht, military, and commercial maritime boatbuilding. Over its more than 200-year history, the company has built vessels for the U.S. Navy, Coast Guard, and Air Force, as well as high-performance, advanced composite craft for some of the world’s most demanding environments.
These prototypes, based on combat-tested USV platforms, will support integration testing, system refinement, and operational evaluation. The company will also serve as a dedicated research and development site for Blue Ops’ evolving family of USV weapons systems.
The Hodgdon relationship also brings added leadership continuity. Sandy Spaulding, a key member of the Blue Ops leadership team, previously served as President of Hodgdon Yacht Services, and Managing Director of Business Development at Hodgdon Shipbuilding, deepening the strategic and operational alignment between the two companies.
Florida HQ to Anchor Executive and Customer Engagement
Blue Ops will be opening a West Palm Beach, Florida headquarters to serve as the division’s executive headquarters and showroom, supporting company strategy, USV demonstrations, partner engagements and defense briefings.
For more information about the different variants and specs that comprise the family of USV weapons system, visit www.blueops.com.
About Red Cat Holdings, Inc.
Red Cat (Nasdaq: RCAT) is a U.S.-based provider of advanced all-domain drone and robotic solutions for defense and national security. Through its wholly owned subsidiaries, Teal Drones and FlightWave Aerospace, Red Cat develops American-made hardware and software that support military, government, and public safety operations across air, land, and sea. Its Family of Systems, led by Black Widow™, delivers unmatched tactical capabilities in small, unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS). Expanding into the maritime domain through Blue Ops, Inc., Red Cat is also innovating in uncrewed surface vessels (USVs), delivering integrated platforms designed to enhance safety and multi-domain mission effectiveness. Learn more at www.redcat.red.
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