OpenWorks Opens U.S. HQ in Ashburn, Plans Detroit Manufacturing by 2026
UK optics firm for counter-drone and air‑defense systems establishes a U.S. regional headquarters and announces a Detroit factory plan as demand and production scale rapidly.
Useful takeaways from this story.
The expansion gives OpenWorks a larger presence in a market it has served for more than a decade.
The company develops optical systems that help operators detect, track and classify drones and other airborne threats.
Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles focused on the commercial drone space and is an international speaker and recognized figure in the industry.
# What happened OpenWorks Engineering, a UK company that builds optical systems for detecting, tracking and classifying drones and other airborne threats, has opened a U.S. regional headquarters in Ashburn, Virginia. The company also announced plans to open a manufacturing facility in Detroit, Michigan, before the end of 2026. The Detroit site is planned but not yet reported as operational.
# Why it matters OpenWorks is responding to rapidly rising demand for counter‑drone and air‑defense optical systems in the U.S. market. The Ashburn headquarters gives the company a permanent North American base for sales, support and collaboration with partners and customers it has served for more than a decade. Announcing a Detroit manufacturing plan signals an intent to localize production and scale manufacturing capacity within the U.S.
# Growth and capacity OpenWorks reported several concrete growth indicators:
- Product adoption grew fourfold between 2025 and mid‑2026.
- Production capacity for Vision Flex, the company's modular surveillance system, increased 2.75 times over the past year.
- The company invested more than $2.7 million in research and development over the past year.
These metrics show the company scaling both engineering and production capabilities to meet increased orders and deployments.
# Products and customers
# Leadership and responsibilities OpenWorks named Chris Bigwood as executive vice president for business development and corporate strategy in North America. Bigwood previously served as chief revenue officer at Clear Align. He will lead the Detroit facility plans and broader North American business development.
CEO Chris Down framed the expansion as a step to support NATO nations and allies and to strengthen U.S. manufacturing and engineering presence in the company's market.
# What to watch next
- Timing and scale of production start in Detroit: the company announced the site for 2026 but has not reported production beginning. Watch for announcements on hiring, facility buildout and initial output.
- Product shipments and contracts in the U.S.: with rising adoption and known partnerships, further procurement announcements or integration contracts would indicate how quickly U.S. demand converts to localized manufacturing orders.
- Staffing and supply chain choices in Detroit: whether OpenWorks taps local automotive suppliers or other regional partners will affect cost, speed to scale and supply resilience.
# Bottom line OpenWorks' U.S. HQ in Ashburn and a planned Detroit factory reflect a concrete move to increase North American presence, grow production capacity for modular surveillance optics, and serve an expanding market that includes defense contractors and federal operators.
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