Lockheed Martin to Invest $300 Million in U.S. Missile Production
Lockheed Martin is investing $300 million to accelerate U.S. production of critical missile systems, partnering with an automated factory manufacturer to help expand capacity, the defense contractor announced last week (Defense News).
What’s going on: “Advanced manufacturing startup Hadrian has reached a seven-year agreement to bring its digital-based solutions to Lockheed Martin’s Missiles and Fire Control facility in Grand Prairie, Texas, to help scale production of critical missile systems.”
- California-based Hadrian will install 24 automated machines to produce missile components at the Grand Prairie facility. Lockheed employees will operate the machines, which are expected to begin production in early 2027.
- Nearly 800 employees work at the Texas plant, which produced 250,000 parts last year and is expected to have approximately 130 high-precision machines by the end of this year.
Why it’s important: “With manufacturing space in Dallas growing to 735,000 square feet, the expansion is part of a broader effort to strengthen America’s defense industrial base, support 2,000 new jobs in Texas and advance plans for 6,000 jobs nationwide,” the NAM posted on X following the announcement.
- The expansion will help the Texas facility “reach record production levels” across Lockheed’s Missiles and Fire Control division, including THAAD and PAC-3 MSE interceptors.
Part of a larger plan: The expansion supports a series of framework agreements between Lockheed Martin and the Defense Department aimed at increasing missile production and establishing long-term contracts.
- The first agreement aims to increase annual production of PAC-3 MSE interceptors from approximately 600 to 2,000 over seven years.
- In July, the U.S. Army converted an earlier agreement with Lockheed Martin into a seven-year production contract valued at approximately $58.6 billion.
