SANDOVAL COUNTY, N.M. — A cutting-edge defense technology company is evaluating Sandoval County, New Mexico, for a major new investment — an ambitious project that, if it moved forward here, could bring hundreds of high-paying jobs and reaffirm the state’s critical role in national security.
The proposed project, undertaken by Castelion Corporation, headquartered in Torrance, California, would create a 1,000-acre rocket motor production facility for the manufacturing and testing of next-generation hypersonic systems. While the project is still under consideration and other out-of-state sites remain in play, initial county and state projections estimate that Phase One could generate more than $659 million in economic output over the next decade in New Mexico.
“New Mexico has long been a cornerstone of American innovation and defense; winning this project would continue that tradition,” said Rob Black, Cabinet Secretary for the New Mexico Economic Development Department. “If our state is ultimately selected, this would mean high-tech jobs, significant investment, and the kind of advanced manufacturing that keeps New Mexico on the map for national security and economic opportunity alike.”
Founded with a mission to restore the U.S. industrial base for defense, Castelion aims to produce hypersonicsystems at scale to help the U.S. and its allies deter global threats and prevent conflict. Phase One of the project could see an investment of over $101 million and up to 300 new engineers, technicians, and executives hired at the site with salaries averaging over $100,000 per year…