NEW ORLEANS, La. – Textron Systems, a Textron company, recently announced a significant multi-site investment across Southeast Louisiana to expand manufacturing and engineering operations of advanced military vehicles and naval systems for the U.S. and allied customers. The projects span three existing facilities in St. Tammany and Orleans parishes, supporting growth of the state’s defense industrial base.
Across all three projects, the company is expected to create 133 direct new jobs while retaining 761 current positions. Louisiana Economic Development, the state's economic development agency, estimates that the project will create an additional 223 indirect jobs.
Textron Systems is a defense contractor that specializes in advanced military systems, marine craft and aerospace technologies. The company has maintained a presence in Southeast Louisiana since 1980.
The projects will be developed in phases, beginning with investments at the Gause Boulevard facility in 2026, followed by expanded manufacturing capacity at the Stone Road facility. Operations will continue throughout each phase.
To secure the projects in the Southeast Region, the state of Louisiana offered Textron Systems an incentives package that includes the comprehensive workforce development solutions of LED FastStart and a $600,000 performance-based grant tied to equipment investments and infrastructure improvements. The company is also expected to participate in the state’s Industrial Tax Exemption and High Impact Jobs programs.
In St. Tammany Parish, Textron Systems is investing $5.8 million across two sites in Slidell. With these expansions, the company is expected to create 111 new direct jobs, with an average annual salary of $95,600, which is 61% above the average St. Tammany Parish wage. LED estimates that this investment will create 197 new indirect jobs.
At its facility at 1010 Gause Blvd., Textron Systems will invest $5.3 million to support continued workforce growth and facility improvements. Work is expected to begin in mid-2026, with completion planned in 2027 while operations continue during construction.
The company is also investing $500,000 at its Stone Road facility to advance engineering and development work for next-generation armored vehicle programs, including the ARV and XM30. This work supports ongoing engineering, testing and system integration for next-generation vehicle programs.
In Orleans Parish, Textron Systems will expand employment at its shipyard facility, where it designs and manufactures the Ship-to-Shore Connector for the U.S. Navy. The expansion will support continued production of critical naval systems at the site. The project is expected to create 22 new direct jobs with an average annual salary of $70,955, which is approximately 5% above the average Orleans Parish wage. LED estimates the project will result in an additional 26 indirect new jobs.
