Hadrian raises $1.37B to accelerate U.S. defense, aerospace manufacturing

Hadrian Automation raised $1.37 billion in new equity financing to accelerate U.S. defense and aerospace manufacturing, bringing its valuation to $7.87 billion. The Torrance, Calif.-based company, founded in 2020, uses AI, machine learning, and robotics in its factories and plans to expand production capabilities for munitions and autonomous systems. The round was co-led by WCM Investment Management, Washington Harbour Partners, Valor Equity Partners, 137 Ventures, and Baillie Gifford, with JPMorganChase's Strategic Investment Group as anchor co-lead.

Hadrian Automation last week said it has brought in $1.37 billion in new equity financing. The company plans to use the funding to accelerate the buildout of the domestic manufacturing capacity needed to deliver U.S. military, aerospace, and industrial systems. “Production is now the frontline of deterrence,” stated Chris Power, founder and CEO of Hadrian. “America’s ability to lead will depend on whether we can build, train, and scale faster. This financing allows Hadrian to accelerate building the Factories of the Future, expand into new mission-critical production capabilities, and invest in the technicians and engineers who will rebuild America’s industrial base.” Founded in 2020, Hadrian is building highly automated factories that use process engineering, AI, machine learning, and robotics. The Torrance, Calif.-based company https://www.hadrian.co/ ‘s stated goal is to “reindustrialize America and compete head to head with China’s industrial base.” Not to be confused with the Hadrian bricklaying robot https://www.therobotreport.com/1st-hadrian-x-bricklaying-robot-arrives-in-us/ from Peth, Australia-based Fastbrick Robotics FBR https://www.therobotreport.com/tag/fastbrick-robotics/ , Hadrian operates a 100,000-sq.-ft. 9,290.3-sq.-m factory in Torrance and is developing other production sites. R&D and production capabilities to expand Hadrian said its latest financing will support new factories, expanded research and development, and more production capabilities as it builds the industrial infrastructure required to deliver complete mission-critical systems at speed and scale. At a time when the demand for trusted U.S. manufacturing https://www.therobotreport.com/category/markets-industries/manufacturing/ capacity continues to outpace supply, the company said it is growing “the AI-powered production network needed to strengthen deterrence, accelerate delivery, and restore America’s ability to build.” The capital will accelerate Hadrian’s ability to deliver not just precision parts, but also full mission-critical systems, it claimed. With its “factories-as-a-service” model, Hadrian said it can rapidly scale production across munitions, shipbuilding, and other high-priority programs. Since its Series C round https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hadrian-raises-260m-to-build-ai-powered-factories-for-america-adds-full-product-manufacturing-opens-arizona-site-302508179.html just 12 months ago, Hadrian has rapidly expanded its manufacturing footprint. The company opened new factories in Mesa, Ariz., and Muscle Shoals, Ala., bringing its capacity to just under 3 million sq. ft. 278,709.1 sq. m across four sites. It noted that it is expanding in regions central to America’s industrial future. Over the next year, Hadrian plans to open additional factories and plans to expand into new production lines. This includes munitions and autonomous systems for national security https://www.therobotreport.com/category/markets-industries/defense-security/ needs. Hadrian also asserted that it is creating a new workforce model for U.S. manufacturing. The company is hiring and training operators, engineers, and technologists to work inside its factories, “where software, robotics, and human ingenuity come together on the factory floor.” Hadrian is valued at $7.8 billion Hadrian’s latest funding brought its valuation to $7.87 billion. It is Hadrian’s second funding round this year. In January, it obtained https://www.therobotreport.com/hadrian-brings-in-additional-funding-bringing-its-valuation-to-1-6b/ investment that at the time brought its valuation to $1.6 billion. WCM Investment Management, Washington Harbour Partners, Valor Equity Partners, 137 Ventures, and Baillie Gifford co-led the most recent round. JPMorganChase’s Strategic Investment Group joined as anchor co-lead, investing through the firm’s Security and Resiliency Initiative. The round also included major financing from 1789 Capital, as well as participation from Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, funds managed by Apollo, and accounts advised by T. Rowe Price Associates. Other investors included CapitalG, Andreessen Horowitz, Founders Fund, Lux Capital, Altimeter, Construct Capital, and existing investors.