Two Defense Giants Are Building a New Arsenal—And It's Right Here at Home

Lockheed Martin and General Dynamics are racing toward 2026 qualification builds at their new Camden, Arkansas solid rocket motor facility, marking a major expansion in U.S. defense manufacturing capacity. The 270-acre site will produce critical propulsion systems while creating nearly 100 skilled jobs and strengthening supply chain resilience for national security.

When Lockheed Martin and General Dynamics decided to team up on solid rocket motor production, they weren't just building another facility. They were addressing a vulnerability that's kept defense strategists awake at night: What happens when America's rocket motor supply chain can't keep pace with demand?

The answer is now taking shape on 270 acres in Camden, Arkansas. Since breaking ground this past April, the partnership has been moving at a clip that would make traditional defense contractors nervous. They've already cleared critical design reviews, validated full-scale production processes with inert motor builds, and tested major subcomponents. For an industry notorious for delays and budget overruns, this pace feels almost revolutionary.

General Dynamics is constructing sixteen purpose-built facilities spanning over 50,000 square feet of production space. This isn't just expansion—it's a complete rethinking of how America manufactures the propulsion systems that power everything from interceptor missiles to launch vehicles. The facility is designed to handle the entire lifecycle of solid rocket motor development and manufacturing under one roof.

The timing couldn't be more critical. Global tensions have exposed just how dependent the U.S. has become on limited suppliers for essential defense components. Jerry Brode, who leads Lockheed Martin's Solid Rocket Motor Product Center, emphasizes that this collaboration creates "a new source of supply for a critical component of the nation's defense." It's not replacing existing capacity—it's adding resilience where none existed before.

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What makes this partnership particularly interesting is how it blends proven manufacturing techniques with modern automation. Chris Haynes from General Dynamics points out that they're not reinventing the wheel, just making it spin faster and more reliably. The result? Cost-effective motors delivered at production scale without sacrificing quality.

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The facility should reach completion in time for qualification builds scheduled for 2026. Before that happens, though, engineers will conduct a static test of the solid rocket motor—essentially firing one while it's bolted to the ground to validate performance under real conditions.

Nearly 100 new jobs will support this operation, providing high-skill employment to rural Arkansas while strengthening national security. It's the kind of win-win that defense investment should deliver but rarely does.