Hadrian Lands $1.37B to Build AI-Powered Factories for US Defense

What the funding means

Hadrian, the Torrance-based manufacturer that builds automated factories for defense and aerospace customers, closed a $1.37 billion Series D at a $7.9 billion valuation. The round was led by Baillie Gifford, JPMorgan Strategic Investment Group, WCM Investment Management, Washington Harbour Partners, Valor Equity Partners, and 137 Ventures. Participating investors include Andreessen Horowitz, Founders Fund, Lux Capital, and several others.

The company plans to use the capital to expand its workforce, scale its Opus software platform, and open new production facilities. Hadrian currently operates factories in Torrance and Hawthorne, California, plus a 270,000-square-foot plant in Mesa, Arizona. A fourth facility in Cherokee, Alabama opened in March to produce submarine components.

Why this matters

Hadrian is not building new weapons. It is building the factories that mass-produce parts for weapons systems the military already uses. Its customers include the Pentagon, Lockheed Martin, and the Navy. The company's "Factories-as-a-Service" model lets defense primes bring Hadrian in to optimize existing production lines or stand up entirely new manufacturing capacity.

The funding arrives amid a broader surge in defense tech spending. President Donald Trump has proposed a $1.5 trillion defense budget, and companies that support military production are drawing significant investor interest. Shield AI, Anduril, and Saronic have all closed large rounds at multibillion-dollar valuations within the past year.

The submarine connection

One of Hadrian's fastest-growing areas is maritime manufacturing. The Alabama facility will produce sequence-critical components for the Virginia and Columbia-class submarine programs. The company expects that plant to be fully operational within two years and to support up to 1,000 jobs.

Hadrian CEO Chris Power told CNBC the fresh capital will help the company stay ahead of what he called "massive amounts of production challenges" in submarines, munitions, and the drone industrial base. He also noted that the Army and Navy are already using Hadrian's Opus software to manage production workflows.