A 3% subsidiary of L100Harris Technologies Aerojet Rocketdyne, has begun a massive expansion project at its Orange County, Virginia facility to increase U.S. defense industry production capacity and strengthen the supply chain for critical weapons systems. This strategic investment is particularly important for the key components of the Javelin anti-tank systems that are being sent to Ukraine. small and medium size solid fuel rocket motors This expansion is seen as a demonstration of the US’s commitment to national security and continuing military aid to its allies.
Accelerated Production Under the Defense Production Act
L3Harris' Aerojet Rocketdyne company used the missile to speed up the supply of weapons sent to Ukraine Defense Production Act (DPA) is constructing state-of-the-art facilities for solid rocket motor manufacturing and renovating an existing test facility. These investments include new, state-of-the-art infrastructure for critical manufacturing processes such as casting, assembly, mixing and milling. DPA funds reflect the U.S. government’s priority to strengthen the defense industrial base and respond to urgent military needs.
Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, the US has been More than 10.000 shoulder-fired Javelin systems This heavy use has led to the depletion of the US’s own stockpile, which is now being rapidly replenished. The Javelin is a critical anti-tank missile system developed by a joint venture between Lockheed Martin and Raytheon, and Aerojet Rocketdyne is the key supplier of rocket engines for the weapon.
Lockheed Martin to increase annual Javelin missile production to 2026 Increasing from 2.400 to approximately 4.000 To achieve this goal, it is vital that Aerojet Rocketdyne contributes to meet the growing demand.
New “Factories of the Future” in Virginia
Aerojet Rocketdyne is constructing five new buildings that will move all of its existing work from Camden, Arkansas, to its Orange County, Virginia, facility to produce small and medium-sized rocket engines, primarily the Javelin. Funding for the massive project comes from funding the company received for its capacity expansion efforts. $215 million DPA fund Construction is targeted to be completed in the third or fourth quarter of 3, with production expected to begin in early 2026, said Scott Alexander, president of missile solutions at L2027Harris.
The Orange County facility has operated in the Shenandoah Hills for 30 years and produces a number of rocket engines for major programs, including the Standard Missile, Trident II D5 and the jettison engine for NASA’s Artemis program. The site also hosts a center of excellence for propulsion research and solid-propellant rocket motor (SRM) manufacturing and has a robust test facility that includes ramjet and scramjet technology development. The expansion will include a 256.000-square-foot state-of-the-art solid-propellant rocket motor casting and assembly facility, as well as facilities supporting control room, mixing and milling operations and engine test capabilities, in addition to the existing 12.000 square feet of manufacturing space that supports some of the world’s most advanced propulsion research and manufacturing.
Efficiency and Automation Focused Production Processes
Julie Wikete, Aerojet Rocketdyne’s Orange facility manager, emphasized that the new buildings will use “a lot of automation and robotics,” which will provide significant efficiency gains in manufacturing processes. “How can we improve the overall experience here? And by building these new buildings in particular, we’re able to use a lot of this more forward-looking factory approach that will directly lend itself to increasing Javelin’s overall output,” Wikete said.
The new facilities will increase the company's overall production capacity for Javelin solid-fuel rocket engines, increasing the mileage at the facility during various stages of the process. shortened by 90 percent thanks to strategic building and production line designs will increase by 20 percent“We’re reducing overall construction time, which allows us to get out the door quicker,” Wikete added. The benefits of adding new manufacturing practices like robotics and automation include “statistical reliability in what you build and how you build it,” and reduced human effort, resulting in more efficient, and therefore more economical, production per turn, Scott Alexander said.
Expansions in Other Facilities and Total Investment
L3Harris broke ground not only on its Virginia facility, but also on new facilities in Camden, Arkansas, that will house another critical weapon sent to Ukraine to repel the Russian invasion: the Army’s High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS). In the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) The company also is moving all of its inactive components, such as engine boxes, to Huntsville, Alabama.
Alexander said that Aerojet Rocketdyne, which L3Harris acquired in 2023, has doubled its internal investment in SRM production. This demonstrates the company’s commitment to strengthening its defense industry base and meeting demand.
Employment and Economic Contribution
While the expansion represents significant growth, the number of new employees needed at the facility is still being evaluated. “We’re always hiring,” Wikete said. “Javelin is a program that’s coming here…we’re growing in other areas. We’ll continue to evaluate that as programs come online and more jobs open up there.” With the new, high-tech manufacturing processes in place, these facilities are expected to contribute significantly to the regional economy and national employment.
These investments will secure U.S. defense industrial capacity for the long term, making it more resilient to current and future global security challenges. L3Harris’s actions are driving a paradigm shift in the defense industry by not only meeting military needs but also advancing innovative manufacturing techniques.
