Military engineer marches on with US offensive plan

A defence sector engineer known for protecting Donald Trump and Barack Obama has advanced growth plans with a US operation.

OpenWorks Engineering has launched a Virginia regional headquarters.

Bosses say the Ashburn hub – slated to be followed by a Detroit plant – “marks the next step in its ongoing mission to protect the airspace and territories of NATO and ally countries”.

They add the move will complement the firm’s UK headquarters in Prudhoe, Northumberland, revealing it remains “steadfast in growing the business and team in the UK”.

Founded in the back room of a rented office, the company is known for SkyWall Patrol, a handheld drone capture system that has been used to protect EU heads of state and US presidents including Donald Trump, Joe Biden and Barack Obama. 

The 125-staff firm’s portfolio also includes apparatus able to detect, track and identify static, mobile and unmanned systems at long range, which has been used at events including the G7 Summit, the World Economic Forum and the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Chris Down, OpenWorks Engineering chief executive, said: “We pride ourselves on never forgetting how we started in the North East.

“The five original founders were friends who came up in the region’s rich engineering and manufacturing sector together.

“Our shared passion for engineering excellence is what took us from a small office in Northumberland, all the way to this expansion into the US.

“This milestone is not only a point of pride for our company’s growth, but a great show of what the North East’s talent has to offer on the global stage.”

He added the US expansion will be supported by executive vice president Chris Bigwood, who has been appointed to oversee the firm’s North American business development and corporate strategy.

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