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Defence shipbuilder Birdon Group has announced plans to develop and operate a 400,000-square foot advanced ship manufacturing facility in Florida, the group’s sixth location in the US.
The newly announced Port of Pensacola facility, in partnership with the City of Pensacola, is expected to create more than 3 million production man-hours per year of additional capacity for fabrication of ships and modules to support the US Maritime industrial base.
In addition, it’s expected to employ approximately 2,000 personnel, including engineering, skilled trades and other support roles.
“Birdon has an excellent track record as a reliable partner to US government customers. Our expansion to a sixth location at the Port of Pensacola demonstrates our commitment to helping to revitalise and rebuild America’s Maritime industrial base,” according to Birdon America president Tony Ardito.
The new facility at the Port of Pensacola is expected to be opened in the third quarter of 2027. The expansion complements existing Birdon Group facilities and ongoing US government programs, such as Waterways Commerce Cutter construction for the US Coast Guard in Bayou La Batre and the Motor Lifeboat Service Life Extension Program for the Coast Guard in Bellingham and Portland in the US.
Earlier this year, Birdon signed a $125 million contract with the Australian government to design and build one prototype and 15 amphibious vehicles – logistics (AV-L) for the Australian Army, under LAND 8710 – Littoral Manoeuvre. All vehicles will be designed and built at Birdon’s Port Macquarie shipyard
The AV-L fleet will replace the Army’s legacy LARC-V capability, delivering a step change in amphibious performance, safety and reliability across Australia’s complex operating environments.
Designed for seamless operation across land, surf and open water, the AV-L combines deep-sea vessel performance with on-road mobility, while meeting Australian safety and regulatory requirements. The platform is engineered to operate in high temperatures, extreme humidity, corrosive saltwater and challenging surf zones, supporting reliable operations across diverse terrain and climate conditions.
The vehicle integrates advanced propulsion, steering and traction systems to enable smooth transitions between marsh, beach and surf environments, enhanced manoeuvrability in-water, and improved responsiveness during recovery and emergency scenarios. Operator safety is central to the design, with systems that actively manage traction, reduce fatigue and improve vehicle stability during high-risk missions.
The AV-L’s modular payload system, deck crane and adaptable configuration allow the platform to support a wide range of defence and humanitarian tasks, reinforcing its flexibility as a logistics and resupply asset.
