Micron Technology has started manufacturing its advanced 1α (1-alpha) DRAM technology at its Manassas, Virginia fabrication facility, marking a major milestone in the company’s strategy to expand domestic semiconductor memory production in the United States. The launch positions Micron as the only U.S.-based memory manufacturer producing advanced DRAM technology on American soil.
Micron said the 1α DRAM node is the most advanced memory technology ever manufactured in the United States and is designed for long-lifecycle applications including DDR4 and LP4 memory products. These memory solutions are targeted at critical sectors such as automotive, defense and aerospace, industrial, networking, and medical devices.
The company is investing more than $2 billion to expand and modernize its Manassas fabrication plant. The investment supports more than 3,100 direct manufacturing and community jobs and is backed by federal, state, and local incentives. Micron expects qualified 1α DRAM production from the Manassas facility by the end of calendar year 2026.
Micron Chairman, President and CEO Sanjay Mehrotra said the achievement represents an important step in Micron’s broader $200 billion U.S. investment strategy focused on semiconductor manufacturing and research and development. The company said its Virginia expansion will quadruple DDR4 wafer supply from the Manassas facility to strengthen domestic supply chains for industrial and mission-critical applications.
Senior U.S. officials attended the event, including Howard Lutnick, Jamieson Greer, Mark Warner, Tim Kaine and Virginia House Speaker Don Scott.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said Micron’s planned $200 billion nationwide investment will significantly increase U.S. production of industrial, automotive, defense, and aerospace memory chips while strengthening America’s advanced semiconductor manufacturing capabilities.
Micron said AI-driven demand is accelerating the need for advanced memory technologies across data centers, automobiles, factories, and industrial systems. The company’s memory and storage portfolio is designed to support both leading-edge AI infrastructure and long-lifecycle industrial applications.
The Virginia milestone is part of Micron’s broader U.S. semiconductor expansion plan. The company recently broke ground on its memory manufacturing complex in New York and continues preparations for its Idaho fabs. Micron expects initial wafer output from its first Idaho fabrication plant in mid-calendar year 2027, while construction preparation has also started for a second Idaho facility.
Combined, Micron’s U.S. projects are expected to create around 90,000 jobs while supporting national economic and security objectives. To strengthen the semiconductor workforce pipeline, Micron has committed more than $325 million toward workforce development and community initiatives across Virginia, Idaho, and New York.
Micron’s workforce investments include semiconductor curriculum development, university and community college partnerships, registered apprenticeship programs, and STEM education initiatives. In Virginia, the company’s STEM Opportunity Fund is expected to support more than 16,000 K-12 students, while veterans account for roughly 10 percent of employees at the Manassas facility.
SHAFANA FAZAL
