Lockheed Martin Plans $420 Million Camden Plant Expansion

The Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC) announced Nov. 2 that Lockheed Martin plans a $420 million expansion of its Camden, Arkansas, manufacturing operation, with 650 full-time positions projected over five years.

The project is intended to increase production capacity for PAC-3, Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) and Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) systems. Adam Bailey, Lockheed Martin’s Camden site general manager, said, “This investment marks another significant step in accelerating production, advancing next-generation manufacturing and creating 650 new jobs.”

Established in 1979, the Camden operation spans 2,427 acres and includes 2.2 million square feet of space. It employs about 1,100 people, and its cumulative output exceeds 700,000 missiles and rockets. The plant makes seven programs for the U.S. Department of War, including PAC-3, THAAD and PrSM, as well as ATACMS, GMLRS, HIMARS and M270.

Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Department of War signed a framework agreement Jan. 29, 2026, to increase annual THAAD interceptor production from 96 to 400 over seven years. An initial contract award was expected to depend on final fiscal 2026 congressional appropriations and other funding. A separate seven-year, $218 million agreement with Karman Space & Defense covers THAAD interceptor shrouds.