Defense production growth is fueling expansion at Oxford manufacturer RBC Bearings.
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Oxford-based manufacturer RBC Bearings said it is expanding production capacity as demand tied to U.S. submarine programs and missile systems fuels growth in its aerospace and defense business.
The company, which makes precision bearings and engineered components for aerospace, defense and industrial customers, said aerospace and defense revenue rose 41.2% in its fiscal fourth quarter, helping lift total quarterly sales 18.3% to $518 million.
In an earnings call, CEO Michael Hartnett said submarine programs have become a major driver of the company’s growing backlog, citing production ramps tied to the Navy’s Virginia- and Columbia-class submarines. Connecticut has become a hub for submarine manufacturing, anchored by Electric Boat’s Groton shipyard and a growing network of suppliers supporting major Navy contracts.
Hartnett said RBC is adding machinery, floor space, test labs and workers to meet demand, and expects revenue tied to its marine business to double over the next two to three years.
The company also reported growing missile-related business, including work tied to programs such as Patriot, Tomahawk and hypersonic systems. Missile-related revenue topped $45 million in fiscal 2026, executives said.
RBC’s total backlog reached $2.3 billion as of late March, up from $900 million a year earlier.
Hartnett also said the company is monitoring supply chain pressures, particularly around titanium, aluminum and high-alloy steel costs.
At the end of March, RBC reported that it had 5,334 employees worldwide, including 3,754 at its 34 U.S. facilities. It also has international facilities located in Australia, Canada, England, France, Germany, India, Mexico, the People’s Republic of China, Poland and Switzerland.
The company owns its corporate headquarters in Oxford at One Tribology Center.
