Draper, a leading engineering innovation company, today announced a major milestone in the development of its Strategic Enhanced Ground Test Facility (SEGTF) in Titusville, Florida.
A successful Critical Design Review (CDR) phase will mark a major step toward establishing a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to the advancement of U.S. strategic systems.
Scheduled to be fully operational in 2028, the SEGTF will be home to a state-of-the-art dynamic environment facility designed to support the development and validation of critical guidance, navigation and control technologies. This world-class facility will play a vital role in ensuring the reliability and performance of a wide range of strategic systems, including those used by the U.S. Navy, Air Force and missile defense programs.
“The SEGTF provides our strategic systems, missile defense and space customers with critical infrastructure that would not have existed otherwise and complements our other modernization efforts on the Space Coast,” said Draper President and CEO Jerry M. Waltz, Ph.D. “The success of the CDR phase is a testament to the hard work of our team to deliver this critical capability to our customers on schedule and on budget.”
Draper, the U.S. Navy’s strategic guidance prime contractor, has years of experience developing and supporting guidance systems for fleet ballistic missiles. The SEGTF will further enhance Draper’s capabilities by providing core simulation, hardware-in-the-loop and systems test capabilities, enhancing the company’s “test as you fly” approach to precision guidance components operating in harsh environments.
Draper Chief Operating Officer Marjorie Quandt highlighted the importance of the investment, saying, “Draper is excited to make this cutting-edge investment to strengthen our capabilities to support critical national security technologies at a facility that is unique in the country.”
SEGTF will initially employ approximately 50 Draper employees, with long-term plans to expand to accommodate more than 150 employees. The expansion will further strengthen Draper’s presence on the Space Coast and contribute to the region’s ongoing modernization efforts.
The success of the CDR phase marks the culmination of collaborative efforts between Draper and multiple partners, including North American Properties, Rush Construction, JRC Integrated Systems, Burns and McDonnell and Ideal Aerosmith. The SEGTF’s comprehensive design incorporates a system-of-systems approach, integrating infrastructure and subsystems to create a comprehensive and persistent strategic ground test capability.
About Draper:
Draper is a non-profit engineering innovation company whose mission is to serve the national interest and security needs. With a multidisciplinary team of 1,800 engineers and scientists, Draper is focused on advancing technology at the intersection of government, academia, and industry. The company’s open-minded approach and commitment to innovation delivers unique solutions to complex challenges across multiple sectors.
For more information, visit draper.com.