KONGSBERG Breaks Ground on Advanced Missile Facility in James City County
February 2, 2026
By Bob McKenna,
Virginia Peninsula Chamber
Kongsberg Defense and Aerospace, Inc. marked a major milestone for the region’s defense economy on January 16, 2026, with a groundbreaking ceremony for its first U.S.-based missile manufacturing and maintenance facility in James City County, Virginia.
Located in Toano, the state-of-the-art facility will support production and sustainment of Kongsberg’s Naval Strike Missile (NSM) and Joint Strike Missile (JSM), precision strike systems used by the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force, as well as allied nations worldwide.
This project will create more than 180 jobs and generate over $100 million in economic impact, while opening new opportunities for regional suppliers and advanced manufacturing partners. Construction is expected to begin in Q2 2026.
“This investment is a textbook example of the ‘D for Defense’ in the Hampton Roads Alliance DEAL Framework, which we recently explored during the Chamber’s Rising Tide economic development series,” said Bob McKenna, President & CEO of the Virginia Peninsula Chamber. “KONGSBERG’s decision to locate here reinforces Hampton Roads’ strategic role in national defense, strengthens our defense industrial base, and demonstrates how targeted investment can drive long-term regional economic growth.”
The KONGSBERG facility further solidifies the Virginia Peninsula’s position as a critical hub for defense, aerospace, and advanced manufacturing, aligning global security needs with local economic opportunity.