Defense Corporation Breaks Ground on $90M Ammunition Facility in Clear Lake, South Dakota
- Steve Jurrens
- 1 hour ago
- 2 min read
Northeast Radio SD News – Clear Lake, SD - National Defense Corporation (NDC), a subsidiary of National Presto Industries, Inc. (NYSE: NPK), has officially broken ground on a new state-of-the-art medium caliber ammunition production and testing facility.
The massive $90 million project will expand the company’s existing Tech Ord campus in Clear Lake, South Dakota, transforming the site into a strategic hub for the U.S. Defense Industrial Base.
The private groundbreaking ceremony took place on June 16, 2026, drawing praise from state and local officials who highlighted the project as a major economic win for the region.
Meeting Evolving Department of Defense Needs
The new facility is specifically engineered to meet current and emerging ammunition requirements for the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). By integrating advanced automation, digital quality control systems, and highly scalable manufacturing processes, the plant will significantly enhance NDC’s flexibility and responsiveness compared to traditional ammunition facilities.
Construction is officially underway at the expanded 640-acre Tech Ord site. The highly automated plant is scheduled for completion in 2028, a timeline aimed at rapidly strengthening the company’s competitive position in defense manufacturing and bolstering its ongoing partnership with U.S. Army leadership.
Boosting the Local Economy and National Security
The South Dakota Governor’s Office of Economic Development expressed strong support for the expansion, emphasizing the deep collaboration between state agencies, the City of Clear Lake, and defense stakeholders.
“This venture highlights the strong collaboration between TechOrd, the City of Clear Lake, the National Defense Corporation, and local partners committed to supporting growth and opportunity in South Dakota,” the Governor’s Office noted in a statement. “Their new 640-acre site will bring economic growth to Clear Lake and the surrounding region while strengthening our nation’s defense capabilities.”
Tech Ord is widely recognized for producing a vital range of detonating and explosive components, and this expansion ensures that South Dakota will play an increasingly critical role in national security.
About the Company
National Presto Industries, Inc. operates across three diverse business segments: housewares and small appliances, defense, and safety. While well-known to consumers for its PRESTO-branded household appliances and pressure cookers, its defense segment is a premier manufacturer of medium caliber training and tactical ammunition, as well as other military ordnance.
