Building Capacity: Four New Investments Supercharging Defense Production
Lockheed Martin's more than $9 billion investment to meet heightened munitions demand is already delivering tangible results. Today we’re highlighting four bold new initiatives that are speeding up the production line, improving production efficiency and strengthening the defense workforce.
1. Production Capacity in World-Class Pennsylvania Factory Expands
Lockheed Martin plans to invest more than $60 million in our Archbald facility, doubling the facility’s size, creating more than 700 new jobs, and expanding production of critical munitions capabilities.
For example, Lockheed Martin’s new 150,000-sq-ft. leased facility in Jessup, Pennsylvania —near the existing Archbald site — adds production space for cable-and-harness manufacturing that supports high-priority programs such as PrSM, THAAD, PAC-3, Apache sensors and more.
This expansion enables the team to accommodate increased tooling, test equipment and hardware, directly addressing munitions demand. With this additional capacity, the facility will accelerate cable-and-harness production, improve throughput, and help field next-generation munitions faster, with phased production slated to begin in 2027.
This state-of-the‑art plant will implement cutting-edge technologies and automation to accelerate next-generation munitions faster. These processes include:
Digital projection harness boards: Uses augmented‑reality to virtualize hundreds of wiring harness boards into a single, economical, scalable package.
Modular digital‑twin floor: Enables instant reconfiguration and simulation of entire assembly lines.
Advanced material-handling automation
Together, these integrated innovations get munitions to the allied forces who need them faster.
2. Accelerated Paint Shop Operations in Orlando Cut Production Time
Three old paint bays in Lockheed Martin’s Orlando facility have been merged into a single, high‑performance shop that powers rapid output for THAAD, PrSM and other missile systems. The team can now re‑layout a cell in hours, not weeks, getting missile‑defense hardware off the line faster than ever.
15% Faster Cure: Tight temperature/humidity control and a high‑efficiency oven cut cure time, boosting daily paint throughput.
Cleaner, Greener Booths: Five recirculating paint booths with modern HVAC cut emissions and allow all booths to run simultaneously.
Double‑Oven Capacity: A second high‑efficiency oven eliminates bake‑out bottlenecks.
Smart Mix‑Room: Sensors and automated controls keep paint consistency high and rework low.
Unified Automation: Consolidating all paint hardware into one shop creates a single, modular platform for automation and rapid technology upgrades—setting an industry benchmark.
3. New Smart Assembly Line in Ocala is Faster Than Ever Before
The final assembly team at Lockheed Martin’s Ocala, Florida, facility has launched a new Progressive Work Smart Assembly Line to support munitions production increases.
Designed specifically for the seeker and missile control unit (MCU) sub‑assemblies, the new line replaces the aging, bottleneck‑prone layout with modular, flexible workstations that streamline material flow and cut waste. Early results show a roughly 50% reduction in hours per unit, slashing build time for both the seeker and MCU. The progressive line teams have the agility to scale production on demand, without sacrificing quality.
The impact is immediate: faster, more reliable assembly means missiles can be fielded to warfighters sooner, bolstering allies’ decisive fire‑power.
Lockheed Martin plans to replicate the smart‑line technology across other sites and missile programs, establishing a new standard for rapid, cost‑effective missile manufacturing.
4. Camden Apprenticeship Program Sets Staffing Record, Maintains Legacy of Hiring Top Talent
In its fourth year, a high school hiring initiative at Lockheed Martin’s Camden, Arkansas, facility has become a beacon of opportunity for the region. Each spring, dozens of local soon-to-be high school graduates eager to trade a classroom diploma for real‑world experience are invited onto the plant floor for guided tours and information sessions, and offers are made to join the Lockheed Martin team.
A record‑breaking 40+ candidates earned full-time roles this year in support of accelerating munitions production, raising the total number of apprentices who have been welcomed into the workforce through the program to more than 90.
The success of the program is rooted in a partnership with the Department of Labor. The initiative not only fuels the pipeline of skilled labor that keeps our national security strong but also demonstrates how local communities can thrive when industry invests in local workers ready to build the future of allied defense.
