250 new jobs coming to Front Royal

Drone aircraft systems provider to open new East Coast headquarters

Front Royal is about to receive a huge economic boost — as in 249 new jobs — that hopefully will trickle into Rappahannock County.

Governor Ralph Northam this week announced that Silent Falcon UAS Technologies, an unmanned aircraft systems service provider and original equipment manufacturer, will invest $6 million to locate its new East Coast headquarters for research, development, and manufacturing at the Front Royal-Warren County Airport, located 8 miles from the Rappahannock County line.

Virginia successfully competed with Massachusetts and New Jersey for the project, and Northam said Silent Falcon’s decision to establish its East Coast operations in Warren County speaks volumes.

“We are excited to be opening our operations and manufacturing center in Front Royal,” said Grant Bishop, CEO of Silent Falcon. “The small, business-friendly atmosphere and the availability of a great workforce were real selling points.”

Silent Falcon manufactures state- of-the-art unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) components and sensors for security, military, and commercial markets, including oil and gas and pipeline inspections, power utility inspections, large-scale agriculture, natural resource management, security/ ISR, public safety, and mapping/surveying.

“We thank Silent Falcon for creating 249 hightech jobs in Warren County, and look forward to building a lasting partnership,” Secretary of Commerce and Trade Brian Ball reacted to the news.

Jeff Browne, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Front Royal-Warren County Economic Development Authority, said Warren County will “look forward to a thriving partnership with this growing company at the forefront of this exciting new technology.”

Bob Stolle, CEO at the Center for Innovative Technology (CIT), called Silent Falcon pioneers in a “young industry that will soon impact every aspect of our lives …”