Defense firms Lockheed Martin and General Dynamics have reached a new stage in their joint effort to expand solid rocket motor production.
The two companies have advanced construction of General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems’ new solid rocket motor manufacturing site in Arkansas since breaking ground in April 2025.
The 270-acre (109-hectare) facility will include more than 50,000 square feet (4,625 square meters) of production space across 16 specialized buildings. This supports the full lifecycle of rocket motor development, from design and assembly to testing and qualification.
The program remains on track to support qualification builds by 2026 and is expected to create around 100 new jobs in the area.
Development milestones achieved this year include design and testing of major subcomponents, a full-scale inert rocket motor build, and a critical design review covering all SRM elements.
These efforts validate tooling, assembly, and production processes to ensure reliability and manufacturing consistency.
The next major step, according to the two companies, will be a static motor test, which will help verify the propulsion system’s performance and readiness for operational use.
Expanding US Rocket Motor Production
Lockheed Martin and General Dynamics said the partnership seeks to strengthen the rocket motor supply chain and speed up production of reliable, cost-efficient propulsion systems for US defense programs.
The effort reflects a wider push across the industry to rebuild domestic solid-propellant manufacturing capacity after years of consolidation and limited competition.
Northrop Grumman has continued expanding its facilities to support missile programs such as the Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent and the Standard Missile series.
Aerojet Rocketdyne, now part of L3Harris Technologies, has also ramped up production at its Camden and Huntsville sites, where it manufactures propulsion systems for Stinger, Javelin, and PAC-3 interceptors.
