Kratos Defense & Security Solutions (NASDAQ: KTOS) announced it selected Odon, Indiana, as the location for its new mid-tier coupled arc jet and laser facility under Project Helios. The company completed a multi-state review process to determine the site that best meets technical and operational requirements for the facility.

The new facility will provide aerothermal testing for materials used on hypersonic systems. According to the company, the facility addresses gaps in current U.S. test infrastructure and will complement existing national test ranges while increasing access to material evaluation resources for all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces and Department of Defense.

"This was a highly competitive process with several strong candidate locations," said Michael Johns, Senior Vice President at Kratos. The company cited support from local and state leadership throughout the selection process as a key factor in the decision.

Project Helios aims to provide a bridge between laboratory material development and fielded system applications, enabling transition of hypersonic materials into operational use. The program is designed to expand aerothermal testing bandwidth to support defense demands while delivering evaluation capabilities at scale.

Dave Carter, President of Kratos' Defense and Rocket Support Services Division, acknowledged partnerships with Indiana leadership and utility collaborators, including Utilities District of Western Indiana and Hoosier Energy, during the site selection process.

The facility represents a milestone following the company's previous announcement of an award to design and build the new test capability. Information about construction timelines and operational dates was not provided in the company's announcement.