Arka invests $85 million in Connecticut facility expansion
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Apr 16, 2024

ARKA Group, L.P. has completed an important expansion of its 550,000 square-foot facility located in Danbury, Connecticut, which also serves as its headquarters. This expansion is focused on enhancing the production capacity for small satellite systems, payloads, and optical coating capabilities.

The expansion, encompassing 14,000 additional square feet, includes state-of-the-art cleanrooms designed for the rapid alignment, integration, and testing of sub-meter aperture EO/IR telescopes and payloads. The new layout maximizes the use of advanced digital engineering and manufacturing tools, boosting ARKA's ability to handle multi-shift payload production efficiently.

Moreover, the facility now includes a specially designed section for applying space-qualified, thin film coatings on optical components, essential for all mission types. These improvements significantly enhance the facility's capacity to meet the most demanding current and projected delivery schedules.

"This expansion enhances our ability to produce sub-meter telescopes and payloads critical for maintaining surveillance capabilities vital to our nation and allies, especially with the increasing number of proliferated low earth orbit constellations," explained Charlie Schaub, Senior Vice President of ARKA's Space and Defense business. He noted that these advancements further solidify ARKA's expertise in both small satellite payloads and large optics for terrestrial and space-based scientific and national security applications.

The recent completion marks the end of the latest phase of investment, which has injected nearly $100 million into ARKA's engineering and production capabilities at the Danbury site over the past 12 years. This phase alone added 31,000 square feet of new cleanroom manufacturing space and upgraded an additional 15,000 square feet.

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