February 9, 2026
By: Janna Foxx, Director of Crane Community Support for Radius Indiana
WestGate@Crane Technology Park is southern Indiana’s anchor for defense-linked growth, with a slate of multi-million-dollar investments that are reshaping the region’s economy, workforce, and sense of place. Several companies are advancing distinct, high-technology programs that deepen our national-security footprint and broaden local opportunities. At the same time, the surrounding communities and local industry are stepping up with new initiatives to facilitate that growth. This momentum was highlighted at the recent Southern Indiana Business Report’s first State of the Region focused on the defense sector; an event that drew more than 200 attendees to WestGate Academy to hear about new developments first-hand from primary defense contractors and community leaders.
Kratos is delivering two major projects that expand testing, integration, and systems capabilities. Just west of the tech park, the Indiana Payload Integration Facility will support hypersonic testing and integration, with an investment ranging from $50 million to $75 million and adding about 100 jobs over the next five years. The company’s Indiana Radar Integration Complex, east of WestGate, represents an $80 million to $95 million commitment, expected to add roughly 150 jobs.
CACI contributes a complementary expansion, with a new building at WestGate slated for completion in August to support about 140 employees. The expansion underscores ongoing demand for engineers and technicians to meet current and future mission needs, while signaling to regional suppliers and the broader economy that WestGate is a strategic hub for mission-centric systems integration and technology development.
Amentum, meanwhile, continues construction of its one-of-a-kind Radiation Combined Environment facility that will play a critical role in advancing microelectronics efficacy with the ability to test and validate microelectronics in the harshest conditions — conditions that mirror real-world conflict environments. This facility indicates a longer horizon for private investment, skilled jobs, and collaboration within WestGate’s ecosystem.
Reliable MicroSystems, with headquarters in Tennessee, also strengthens WestGate with its specialization in radiation-hardened microelectronics, which is an essential capability for avionics and defense platforms facing harsh environments.
The defense sector is accelerating public and private investment in infrastructure and ecosystems that benefit the broader community. New laboratories, testing facilities, and manufacturing spaces at WestGate will attract other startups and small-to-mid-size enterprises that previously looked to coasts or large metros for scale. Improved broadband, energy efficiency projects, and vendor development programs can also have a ripple effect on local businesses, from attracting new restaurants near the tech park to adding jobs for skilled tradespeople and service providers.
Community implications extend beyond economics. A growing defense footprint boosts our region’s identity as a hub for innovation and manufacturing excellence. That sense of purpose often translates into improved quality of life: better schools and new investment in STEM education; enhanced community stability through higher employment and local tax revenue; and a more diverse talent pool. The bottom line is that the defense industry’s momentum in southern Indiana can reinforce a resilient regional economy — one where the next generation of workers find compelling reasons to build their careers close to home, in a community that values both security and opportunity.
If WestGate and the surrounding communities maintain their collaborative cadence — building bridges among defense contractors, local government, universities and local industry partners — the park is well-positioned to translate defense dollars into lasting prosperity for southern Indiana: higher wages, stronger local supply chains, improved public services, and a regional identity where homegrown engineers, technicians, and innovators help secure both national security and community wellbeing.