The NIOA Group has welcomed the start of construction on Barrett Firearms Manufacturing Inc’s new facility that will modernise weapon systems development for a key contributor to Allied defence forces.

A ceremony marking the beginning of construction of the Barrett Manufacturing & Technology Campus (BMTC) in Tennessee was attended by a host of dignitaries including representatives from the NIOA Group, which acquired Barrett in January 2023.

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and Senator for Tennessee, the Honourable Marsha Blackburn, joined company executives and staff on what will be NIOA’s North American Headquarters and global centre of excellence for firearms, advanced military weapons manufacturing and research capabilities.

Barrett has built a legendary reputation for its craftmanship and innovation in large caliber long-range superiority over 40 years and is a trusted supplier to US and allied militaries worldwide.

This new facility, described as “the factory of the future”, will continue that story of innovation, research and development and precision military manufacturing to produce the next generation of advanced soldier fired weapon systems.

The A$117 million project is on a 69-hectare greenfield site, not far from Barrett’s original headquarters in Murfreesboro, TN, where it has proudly operated for more than four decades. It marks the most significant investment in Barrett’s history and reflects its long-term commitment to advanced manufacturing and local jobs in Rutherford County.

Stage 1 of the BMTC includes corporate headquarters, R&D capabilities, large scale state-of-the-art manufacturing and first floor office area spread over more than 250,000 square feet. The expansion will double the Barrett workforce over the next five years and enable the company to meet growing worldwide demand for its commercial and defence products.

NIOA Group executive chairman and chairman of the Barrett board, Rob Nioa, said the new facility would serve as the company's global firearms manufacturing centre of excellence at a time of significant importance for mobilising industry to support Allied defence capability.

“With global security and deterrence more critical than at any time in the past 80 years, we’re very focused on working with Australia’s Five Eyes and AUKUS partner nations to build sovereign defence industrial capability,” Mr Nioa said.

“We are excited to be building the factory of the future here in Tennessee that will have far-reaching localbenefits and international impact.

“It adds the next chapter to Barrett’s history of innovation, precision and excellence that has benefited nations across the globe, creates new jobs that stay in the area while giving us the scale, technology and capacity to meet the growing demands of our customers and defence partners worldwide.”

Barrett CEO Bryan James said the new facility represented a bold step forward and a long-term commitment to the company’s heritage.

“As a locally founded business, we’re proud to invest once again in the place that has shaped our success as a global leader serving both the commercial and military markets,” he said.

“This project not only underscores our commitment to the region, supporting hundreds of local jobs, but it’s a significant investment in our people, our customers and our capabilities.”

Mr James thanked Tennessee Economic and Community Development (TNECD) and the wider community for their strong support of the project, recognising its potential to create skilled jobs for the region.

Construction of the BMTC is expected to be completed by February, 2027 with operations to begin soon after.

NIOA Group CEO Rob Nioa and wife Eliza (pictured fourth from the right) and Barrett CEO Bryan James (second from the left) joined Tennessee State leaders to mark the beginning of construction of the $AUD117m Barrett Manufacturing & Technology Campus.

Renderings of the Barrett Manufacturing & Technology Campus in Tennessee which will become NIOA’s North American Headquarters and global centre of excellence for advanced military weapons manufacturing.