New Louisiana operation underscores the growing importance of domestic drone production as U.S. demand for defense and industrial platforms accelerates
DMR Technologies announced plans to invest $1.4 million to establish its first full-scale U.S. manufacturing facility in Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, where the company will produce and deploy its flagship Field Ranger X50 unmanned aerial systems (UAS) for the American market. The new Acadiana site will serve as DMR’s primary domestic production hub, expected to create more than 500 direct jobs and over 1,200 total job opportunities across the region.
The company plans to begin operations at the renovated 10,000-square-foot facility on Dorset Avenue by the end of 2025. The Lafayette facility will integrate advanced flight control printing, rotor manufacturing, assembly, quality control, and logistics staging under one roof, with capacity to assemble up to 1,000 drones in its first year of production.
“Louisiana is competing to win in next-generation industries like aerospace, defense and advanced technology,” said Governor Jeff Landry. “DMR’s decision to manufacture here is a vote of confidence in Louisiana’s workforce, our pro-growth policies and the momentum we are building statewide.”
Expanding U.S. Manufacturing Capacity for Strategic Sectors
The announcement comes at a time when U.S. manufacturing capacity for drone platforms is gaining national importance. A surge in defense and industrial demand, combined with new federal incentives for domestic production, has driven investment across the unmanned systems sector.
In July, DRONELIFE reported on the potential impacts of the 2025 “One Big Beautiful Bill” (OBBBA), which includes more than $13 billion in funding to expand the U.S. drone industrial base and accelerate low-cost, attritable systems for the Department of War. The legislation highlights the government’s intent to strengthen supply chain resilience and reduce dependence on foreign-made components — a goal echoed by commercial operators seeking reliable access to secure, U.S.-built drone platforms.
Against that backdrop, DMR’s move to expand production in Louisiana reflects a broader trend of companies localizing operations to meet growing expectations for American-made systems across defense, public safety, and industrial applications.
“Louisiana has proven to be an ideal partner,” said DMR Technologies Co-founder and CEO David Wang. “Lafayette offers us the talent, infrastructure and policy environment we need to ramp up quickly and operate with efficiency. More than drones, we’re building upon our strategic partnership with Lafayette Parish-based SoLA Drones, and we’re building a resilient, future-focused U.S. supply chain and Louisiana gives us the foundation to do exactly that.”
Strengthening the Domestic Supply Chain
DMR Technologies’ Lafayette operation will house co-located engineering and compliance teams, quality testing areas, and warehouse and logistics staging — ensuring that each stage of production and deployment remains under local control.
“This isn’t just about production — it’s about access,” said Ryan Case, Co-founder and Head of U.S. Operations. “Being located in Louisiana gives us a strong logistics footprint to serve both U.S. and international clients. With the launch of our Lafayette facility, we’re eliminating lead time issues and delivering next-day fulfillment for many of our U.S. customers.”
By moving production of its Field Ranger X50 drone from overseas to the United States, DMR aims to shorten delivery times, improve regulatory compliance, and strengthen its domestic supply chain capabilities — aligning with national goals for industrial resilience outlined in OBBBA and other federal initiatives.
“DMR’s investment aligns perfectly with multiple of our target industries, including advanced manufacturing and aviation, while also supporting critical sectors such as agriculture, defense and public safety,” said Lafayette Economic Development Authority President and CEO Mandi D. Mitchell.
Economic and Workforce Impact in Louisiana
According to Louisiana Economic Development (LED), the project is expected to generate 521 direct jobs with an average annual salary of $85,000 — more than 150% of the parish average — and an additional 766 indirect jobs, for a total of 1,287 potential new opportunities.
“This investment is a powerful example of LED’s 9×90 work plan coming to life,” said LED Secretary Susan B. Bourgeois. “By targeting companies at the intersection of our key industries, we are strengthening Louisiana’s competitive position on the national and global stage.”
Local officials hailed the project as a major step toward diversifying the regional economy. “Creating more than 500 jobs will bring real opportunities for our families, friends and neighbors,” said Lafayette Mayor-President Monique B. Boulet. “By updating an existing facility, DMR Technologies is reinvesting in part of our community while keeping costs low.”
The state secured the project through a competitive incentive package that includes LED FastStart workforce development, a $1 million performance-based grant, and potential participation in Louisiana’s High Impact Jobs and Industrial Tax Exemption programs.
A Broader Shift Toward U.S. Production
DMR Technologies joins a growing number of drone manufacturers expanding or relocating production to the United States amid a national push to secure supply chains and scale advanced manufacturing. Domestic production offers advantages in compliance, logistics, and security that are increasingly prioritized by both government and private sector customers.
“Welcoming DMR Technologies to Lafayette highlights the strength of Acadiana’s business climate and the partnerships that make growth possible,” said OneAcadiana President and CEO Troy Wayman. “DMR’s presence will help diversify our economy and further establish South Louisiana as a destination for companies shaping the industries of tomorrow.”
With its new facility, DMR Technologies is positioning itself to meet a rising wave of U.S. demand across agriculture, defense, inspection, and public safety — reinforcing a broader industry shift toward onshore manufacturing and supply chain independence.
Read more:
- Dronescape: What Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” Means for the Commercial and Dual-Use Drone Industry
- America’s Drone Ecosystem at a Crossroads: The Dual Approach to Boosting Domestic Industry and Addressing Chinese Platforms
- U.S. Department of Defense to Launch Replicator Initiative to Integrate Uncrewed Systems at Scale
Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, a professional drone services marketplace, and a fascinated observer of the emerging drone industry and the regulatory environment for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles focused on the commercial drone space and is an international speaker and recognized figure in the industry. Miriam has a degree from the University of Chicago and over 20 years of experience in high tech sales and marketing for new technologies.
For drone industry consulting or writing, Email Miriam.
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Great. Instead of American consumers getting access to the highest quality, most rugged, and advanced drones in the world, we get to find out what Louisiana’s labor pool can accomplish.