Fairbanks Morse acquires Rolls-Royce Naval Propulsors

Naval power and propulsion system supplier Fairbanks Morse Defense (FMD), a portfolio company of Arcline Investment Management (Arcline), has finalized its acquisition of the Rolls-Royce Naval Propulsors business. The milestone was celebrated at the newly acquired Pascagoula, Miss., foundry.

The Fairbanks Morse Defense Pascagoula facility is capable of casting large Navy-standard propulsor systems. (Photo: Fairbanks Morse Defense)

According to the announcement, the Fairbanks Morse Defense Pascagoula facility is the only privately owned foundry in the United States capable of casting large Navy-standard propulsor systems. Now operating through a naval-focused defense contractor, the facility is being fully integrated into Fairbanks Morse Defense’s broader portfolio of naval technologies.

“This acquisition represents a strategic investment in sustaining the United States’ defense manufacturing capabilities and ensuring we remain prepared to meet mission-critical demands,” said Steve Pykett, CEO of Fairbanks Morse Defense. “The Pascagoula foundry, in particular, plays a vital role in supporting the Navy’s maritime dominance, and its continued operation expands our capacity to serve as a trusted partner to the U.S. military.

The Pascagoula site is one of several key assets included in the Rolls-Royce Naval Propulsors’ business acquisition. Fairbanks Morse Defense also gains a manufacturing campus in Walpole, Mass., to produce critical propulsor systems for the U.S. Navy, Coast Guard and allied naval fleets.

In addition, Fairbanks Morse Defense is in the process of acquiring Rolls-Royce’s facility in Peterborough, Ontario, where it will support handling systems and undersea technology, including the Mission Bay Handling System used in the Global Combat Ship programs of the U.K., Canada and Australia.