Counter-Drone Optics Maker OpenWorks Opens US Headquarters, Plans Detroit Factory

A Transatlantic Bet on Drone Defense

OpenWorks Engineering, a British company specializing in optical systems that detect, track, and classify drones and other aerial threats, has planted its flag in the United States. The firm opened a regional headquarters in Ashburn, Virginia, and has set its sights on a manufacturing plant in Detroit, Michigan, with a target of launching before the end of 2026. Production in Detroit has not yet started, making the factory a stated ambition rather than an operating reality.

New Leadership and Existing Ties

To steer the American push, OpenWorks brought in Chris Bigwood as executive vice president for business development and corporate strategy in North America. Bigwood previously served as chief revenue officer at Clear Align and will also manage the Detroit plans. The company is not starting from scratch in the U.S.; it already works with defense and security players such as Echodyne, Epirus, Anduril Industries, and Fortem Technologies, and recently provided training to FBI operators on its technology.

Growth Numbers Tell the Story

OpenWorks reported striking momentum. Adoption of its products quadrupled between 2025 and mid-2026, while production capacity for Vision Flex, its modular surveillance system, rose 2.75 times. The workforce has expanded from 26 employees in 2024 to 125, and the company invested more than $2.7 million in research and development over the past year. These figures underscore a company scaling quickly to meet demand.

Why It Matters

CEO Chris Down described the U.S. move as a logical extension of OpenWorks' work protecting NATO airspace and serving a market that increasingly prioritizes domestic manufacturing. The Virginia headquarters is already operational, but the Detroit factory remains a goal rather than an active production site. For now, OpenWorks is betting that its optical expertise and rapid growth will translate into a lasting American presence.