BRIDGETON, MO — Federal, local and company leaders recently attended a groundbreaking ceremony in Bridgeton, Missouri, for the new Leonardo DRS, Inc. engineering development and light manufacturing facility. The new facility will accommodate the company’s growing Land Systems line of business. The $32-million complex is being developed by real estate development firm US Capital Development (USCD), which recently secured the site directly adjacent to Interstate 70 and St. Louis Lambert International Airport. 
Earlier this year Leonardo DRS announced it would invest in a new engineering, research and development and laboratory space to serve as the focal point for the majority of the business unit’s development and platform systems integration activities. The business is an integrator of a wide range of systems for the U.S. Army, Air Force and Marine Corps ground platforms.
“I appreciated the opportunity to join the team at Leonardo DRS for their groundbreaking ceremony today,” said U.S. Representative Ann Wagner, who was on hand for the event. “This innovative engineering and research and development facility will be at the forefront of manufacturing complex Land Systems, and I am pleased that they are building right here in Bridgeton. Leonardo DRS is part of Missouri's sophisticated defense industry, and this move represents the retention and creation of excellent jobs that illustrate the talent of our region's workforce.”
“Our company and Land Systems business has been growing and together with the expanding mission-critical needs of our customers, this new facility will modernize our business to ensure our customer is given the best support for years to come,” said Aaron Hankins, Vice President and General Manager of the Leonardo DRS Land Systems line of business. “The St. Louis area has been our long-time home, and we are proud to be a part of the Bridgeton community.”
“This project is a great addition to US Capital Development’s run of successful build-to-suit projects across the country,” said Scott Sachtleben, Managing Principal of USCD. “It illustrates how our site selection and development skills match up to our client’s needs by delivering a tailor-designed, state-of-the-art facility at a tremendous location, within budget.”
“The folks at DRS have been excellent to work with to facilitate this development, and we believe the finished product will give them the modern facility they need today, while providing space for future growth,” said Scott Haley, Managing Director of Development for USCD.
Completion of the new 171,500-square-foot facility, which is being built by Brinkmann Constructors, is expected by early 2020.
As part of the community, Leonardo DRS is also working with the Pattonville School District by executing a formal agreement to further Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) initiatives in an extended learning opportunity program for high school students. The partnership also creates additional learning opportunities for elementary students and faculty in the district, as well as mentoring and job shadowing opportunities for high school students.