BARTON-The U.S. Navy is preparing to hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony in the coming weeks for a massive 2.2 million-square-foot subcomponents manufacturing facility located at the former Barton Railcar Plant in Barton, Alabama.
The announcement came Monday from U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville during an update at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville.
The facility is situated at the former Barton Railcar Plant in Barton, Alabama. Known as Factory 4, this AI-driven facility is dedicated to manufacturing subcomponents for the U.S. Navy, supporting the high-tech manufacturing for the U.S. Navy’s submarine and maritime industrial base.
Senator Tommy Tuberville announced that the project represents a $2 billion capital investment expected to bring between 750 and 1,500 jobs to the region.
This initiative is part of a broader, rapid expansion of Alabama’s maritime industrial base, which also includes significant submarine module manufacturing in Mobile by Austal USA.
Officials say the plant will play a key role in supporting U.S. manufacturing tied to national defense and advanced industrial production.
The date for the ribbon cutting is set for March 20th, with further details to come. Further information will be available in the weeks leading up to the ribbon cutting. U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville, who announced the project on March 9, 2026, indicated that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Secretary of the Navy John Phelan are expected to attend the ceremony.
