Lockheed Martin Corp. announced May 21 it had broken ground on a new interceptor missile plant in Troy, Alabama. According to the military defense company, the new Munitions Production Center will produce Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptors and, in the future, the company’s Next Generation Interceptor (NGI) rockets.
The company did not specify how many new workers the site would employ. Lockheed Martin currently employs about 4,000 in Alabama.
In a statement, company leadership said the new plant, which Lockheed-Martin says will roughly double the existing factory’s production space, was necessary to meet demand.
"Lockheed Martin is ready now to meet the urgent demand to expand production capacity," said Lockheed Martin Chairman, President and CEO Jim Taiclet. "We have already invested well over a billion dollars in this expansion, which directly strengthens deterrence and helps ensure our service members and allies have the capabilities they need when they need them."
The company is in the midst of a $9 billion investment spree scheduled to last through 2030 in order to meet increased demand from the U.S. military for materiel.
About the Author
Ryan Secard
Ryan Secard joined Endeavor B2B in 2020 as a news editor for IndustryWeek. He currently contributes to IW, American Machinist, Foundry Management & Technology and Plant Services on breaking manufacturing news, new products, plant openings and closures, and labor issues in manufacturing.