It could actually be done using the diversity of pre-existing mineables rather than adding in a new zone type.
Cryo-organisms, Xeno-Relics, Military Salvage, Iridium 'ore', Narharcrite, Azurite, Premium-scrap all seem like valid resources for building codes out of. Throw in a couple of base-building resources like magnetic superconductors and you've already got everything ingame to form weapon blueprints.
Since you can't trade cargo in Conn, people will have to InRp haul this stuff around, as well. Gives go-anywhere factions like Zoners/researchers a bit more gameplay purpose, too, as they can viably be the middle-men for shifting hardware recipies.
Don't even need to add in new equipment. Make it a surrogate means to build sci-data weapons/sci-data rewards for those of us who go to every sci data event but never seem to get anything.
Hell, you could implement an early version of it now without adding a POB factory:
"I've got all of this stuff together in this place in-storage on my base, and I've done sufficient RP. Let me make an application post."
Good spot with the Military Salvage RP. It's supposed to add to the number of lore justification as to how edge-world groups without massive research/military industrial complexes of the houses can keep up with the Joneses in the primary houses in tech level - therefore, it's meant to be very illegal to handle for people other than those who contracted by governments to safely dispose of it, like DSE and ALG are. Imagine trying to sell bits of a crashed stealth fighter in the real world.
THE SYNDIC LEAGUES
(A co-operative of Rheinland's outlawed trade unions, determined to take the underworld for themselves.)