Tobyhanna Army Depot Expands Drone Manufacturing Capabilities

Tobyhanna Army Depot celebrated the expansion of its advanced manufacturing capabilities with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on June 30 to officially launch its new brushless DC motor assembly line. The new production capability will provide rapid, on-demand support for the joint force while strengthening domestic manufacturing of critical components for small uncrewed aircraft systems.

The new assembly line establishes a scalable, U.S.-based production capability designed to enhance Department of War supply chain resilience and reduce reliance on foreign suppliers. The initiative aligns with the Army and Department of War’s ongoing transformation efforts to modernize uncrewed aircraft systems and strengthen operational readiness.

The ceremony was hosted by Lt. Gen. Christopher O. Mohan, commanding general of Army Materiel Command, and included Maj. Gen. James D. Turinetti IV, commanding general of the Communications-Electronics Command, along with depot leadership, distinguished guests and members of the Tobyhanna workforce.

“This is another testament to what our organic industrial base can do when given they’re given the proper guidance, the proper resources and a timeline,” Mohan said, adding that Tobyhanna consistently exceeds expectations.

“This is our most modern depot, and Team Tobyhanna is our most aggressive and forward-thinking workforce,” he said. “From me to you, we can’t do this without you and thank you. This is for you and for our nation. There are many more things like this that are going to happen right here in Pennsylvania.”

The new capability builds on Tobyhanna’s growing expertise in unmanned aircraft systems. After completing its first delivery of first-person-view small unmanned aircraft systems in 2025, the depot continues to expand its role in supporting Department of War UAS programs. Tobyhanna has also supported the MQ-9 Reaper program since the 2010s through public-private partnerships with L3Harris and General Atomics.

Depot officials estimate the new production facility has the capacity to manufacture more than 500,000 brushless DC motors annually.

As the Department of War’s Center of Industrial and Technical Excellence for command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR), electronics, avionics, and missile guidance and control, Tobyhanna Army Depot continues to expand its capabilities to support mission readiness through advanced manufacturing, systems integration, engineering and field support.