Saab opens Grayling munitions plant, targets May production start

Saab Inc. held a soft opening Tuesday for its new munitions plant in Grayling, where the company expects to begin assembling weapons for the U.S. Department of Defense next spring. Erik Smith, president and CEO of Saab Inc., said the buildings are complete and work has shifted to installing equipment and securing supplier deliveries.

The facility, which represents an investment of more than $115 million in Michigan, will handle the final assembly, integration, and testing of 84 mm shoulder-fired rifles and precision strike weapon systems. Smith noted that the plant currently occupies 65 acres of a 445-acre site, with plans to expand over time.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer, who toured the facility, stated that the plant addresses a gap in the national munitions supply and leverages Michigan’s strengths in defense training and manufacturing. The company has more than 40 employees in Grayling and plans to add at least 30 more as it ramps up to full production.

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