22-mile PAC-3 interceptor motors record $4.7B deal to expand Arkansas plants by 2027

L3Harris Technologies has secured a $4.7 billion propulsion award from Lockheed Martin for the PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement interceptor. The seven-year deal marks L3Harris’ largest PAC-3 propulsion award to date. It gives the company a long production horizon as the U.S. expands its ability to manufacture critical missile systems. L3Harris will supply several propulsion components for the PAC-3 MSE. They include its two-pulse solid rocket motor, Lethality Enhancer, and Attitude Control Motors. Propulsion capacity grows The PAC-3 MSE’s propulsion system plays a critical role during an engagement. Its two-pulse motor can deliver thrust in separate stages during the interceptor’s flight. That architecture gives the missile another layer of control over its propulsion profile. The system must support rapid acceleration while allowing the interceptor to maneuver toward its target. L3Harris President of Missile Solutions Ken Bedingfield said the award arrived at an unusually fast pace. He said the funding will help the company expand PAC-3 propulsion capacity. The timing also reflects growing pressure on the U.S. defense industry to increase missile output. Modern air defenses require large inventories of interceptors, along with the manufacturing capacity needed to replenish them. Propulsion remains one of the more specialized parts of that industrial challenge. Producing solid rocket motors requires dedicated equipment, controlled processes, and extensive inspection. L3Harris is therefore putting significant resources into expanding its manufacturing base. The company’s new investment extends well beyond a single production line. New plants target 2027 Two new facilities are taking shape at L3Harris’ Camden, Arkansas, site. The company broke ground on the plants in June to support PAC-3 MSE production. Both facilities are expected to become operational in 2027. They will increase manufacturing capacity and improve throughput at the Arkansas campus. The expansion also brings newer production capabilities to the site. Solid rocket motor manufacturing involves demanding processes, making consistency and inspection critical at higher production volumes. L3Harris has already installed dedicated production bays at Camden for PAC-3 work. The site also uses automated digital X-ray systems to examine components without damaging them. Those inspection tools can help manufacturers identify internal issues before propulsion hardware reaches later production stages. That becomes increasingly important as production rates climb. Missile surge reaches factory floor The Arkansas expansion forms part of a much larger manufacturing push by L3Harris. The company plans to add about 60 new facilities across its propulsion operations. More than 1 million square feet of manufacturing space will also be added across Alabama, Virginia and Arkansas. The expansion represents a major effort to increase the U.S. industrial capacity behind missile propulsion. Washington has pushed defense manufacturers to increase output of critical munitions. The PAC-3 program sits directly within that effort because the interceptor provides a key layer of U.S. air and missile defense. The new Lockheed Martin award gives L3Harris a substantial multiyear commitment for that work. It also provides a clearer production path as the company brings additional manufacturing capacity online.For the PAC-3 MSE, that means more propulsion hardware can move through the production pipeline. For the U.S. defense industry, it reflects a broader shift toward expanding factories alongside weapons inventories.Get the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.Aamir is a seasoned tech journalist with experience at Exhibit Magazine, Republic World, and PR Newswire. With a deep love for all things tech and science, he has spent years decoding the latest innovations and exploring how they shape industries, lifestyles, and the future of humanity.