Wing to invest up to $125 million in Fort Worth drone factory, US manufacturing
Wing, the drone delivery company owned by Alphabet, said it plans to invest up to $125 million over the next two years in U.S. drone manufacturing, centered on a new factory in Fort Worth, Texas.
According to DRONELIFE, the 15,000-square-foot facility will be able to produce tens of thousands of aircraft annually, and Wing expects to create up to 100 manufacturing jobs there. The investment also covers continued support for research and engineering in California and in communities where Wing operates, the outlet reported.
Expansion plans
Wing flies from more than 70 sites spread over big U.S. cities and their surrounding areas, according to DRONELIFE. The company aims to widen its service to almost 20 U.S. markets and to serve over 40 million people in the country by 2027. Wing reports it has completed more than one million U.S. home deliveries in 2026 alone.
DroneXL reported that the plant will build Wing's next-generation delivery aircraft for a Walmart network that is under contract to cover more than 270 stores by 2027. DroneXL also noted that Wing's own post gives no split between the Fort Worth spending and the California spending, no start date for production and no name for the new aircraft.
“The U.S. is our focus for growth, and by investing in the future of drone delivery here, we are continuing to advance American aviation innovation as we build our commercial momentum.”
Regulatory and market context
DRONELIFE said the move comes as Washington looks to boost homegrown drone production and depend less on overseas suppliers. Commercial operators are also preparing for possible changes to rules on beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) flights, meaning flights where the operator cannot directly see the aircraft.
The FAA's proposed Part 108 rule would set a broader framework for routine BVLOS operations, DRONELIFE reported. DroneXL said the rule has been in White House review since July 10 and that Wing's post cites its upcoming release as a trigger for expansion. DRONELIFE said Wing was the first drone delivery company to be granted a Part 135 air carrier certificate by the FAA, in 2019.
DroneXL reported that the announcement came one day after Zipline, Walmart's other drone partner, raised $1.5 billion, with its money also earmarked for U.S. manufacturing. Both companies fly Walmart orders in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, it said.
DroneXL also reported that Wing has not said how many aircraft fly from its 70-plus sites today. It said The Dallas Morning News, relying on a statement issued for Wing, reported the Fort Worth operation began earlier this year, while Wing's announcement gives no opening date.
