Attalon Expanded Sapphire Manufacturing in Murrieta
The company invested nearly $13 million to boost production of optical materials for military aircraft and missile systems.
Updated on Oct. 12, 2026 in Manufacturing
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Attalon has invested nearly $13 million to expand its sapphire manufacturing facility in Murrieta, California. The project aims to increase throughput for essential electro-optical and infrared systems used in military platforms.
Why it matters
Defense contractors require greater quantities of high-performance components to meet demand for military technology. This expansion strengthens domestic supply-chain capacity for critical aerospace and missile defense platforms.
Attalon directed nearly $13 million into infrastructure and process improvements to scale production. This follows seven years of combined government and private-sector investment at the Murrieta site.
The players
Attalon
Attalon is a manufacturing company that produces high-performance optical materials for use in defense and aerospace applications.
The details
The facility produces specialized sapphire optical materials critical for electro-optical and infrared sensors in military aircraft and missiles. The capital infusion will leverage existing technical capabilities to enhance production readiness and overall throughput.
Timeline
2019-2026: The facility received seven years of prior government and private-sector investment.
Market Landscape
This project continues the trend of bolstering domestic defense manufacturing to support complex military platforms. The expansion follows federal efforts that previously developed production capabilities for the F-35 fighter aircraft program.
The investment strengthens the local manufacturing sector in Murrieta by securing long-term defense production contracts. Residents and local businesses may see increased stability as the facility continues to receive multi-year funding for high-tech military supply chains.
The takeaway
Maintaining specialized optical production domestically remains a key priority for defense supply chains. Companies that secure long-term government and private sector support are better positioned to meet the high-volume manufacturing demands of the aerospace industry.
Further reading
Learn more about local industrial growth in the Manufacturing section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by MyChesCo.
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