Key Takeaways

• L3Harris is expanding its Orange County facility to produce solid rocket motors for the Javelin weapon system.
• The project, partly funded by the Defense Production Act, aims to complete construction by late 2026 and start production in early 2027.
• Advanced automation and robotics will enhance production capacity by 20%, improving efficiency and reducing costs.

Expansion of Solid Rocket Motor Production

L3Harris has initiated significant expansion efforts at its Orange County facility in Virginia, aimed at producing solid rocket motors for the Javelin antitank weapon. This development comes as part of a broader strategy to replenish the U.S. stockpile of Javelin systems, which have been extensively sent to Ukraine since the start of the conflict in February 2022.

With over 10,000 Javelin systems supplied to Ukraine, the U.S. government is focusing on increasing production capacity. Lockheed Martin, a joint venture partner in the Javelin program alongside Raytheon, aims to ramp up annual missile production from 2,400 to nearly 4,000 by 2026. To support this surge in demand, Aerojet Rocketdyne, a division of L3Harris, is establishing state-of-the-art facilities in Orange County for solid rocket motor manufacturing and testing.

The expansion involves the construction of five new buildings that will transfer the production of small and medium rocket motors from Camden, Arkansas, to Virginia. A significant portion of this project is funded by the $215 million allocated to Aerojet via the Defense Production Act, focusing on enhancing production capabilities. Scott Alexander, L3Harris’ missile solutions president, indicated that the goal is to complete construction by the third or fourth quarter of 2026, with production expected to start in early 2027.

L3Harris has a longstanding presence in the region, producing military-grade rocket motors for various significant programs, including those supporting NASA’s Artemis initiative. The company also operates a center dedicated to propellant research and solid rocket motor production, complemented by advanced testing facilities.

In addition to the Orange County development, L3Harris has begun constructing a new 60,000-square-foot facility in Camden, Arkansas, to enhance production of rocket motors for the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System, an essential asset for U.S. military support to Ukraine. Furthermore, the company is relocating its inert component manufacturing to Huntsville, Alabama, to streamline operations.

Overall, L3Harris has doubled its internal investment in Aerojet’s solid rocket motor production since its acquisition in 2023. The new Orange County facilities will incorporate advanced automation and robotics to improve operational efficiency. Julie Wikete, Aerojet’s Orange site director, emphasized that these advancements will optimize production flow and drastically reduce transportation time within the facility, thus accelerating the time from manufacturing to deployment.

The introduction of these technologies is also expected to enhance statistical reliability and reduce human error in the production process, potentially lowering the overall cost per unit. As the company evaluates its future workforce needs, potential employment opportunities will arise with the ramp-up of the Javelin program and other projects.

The expansion marks a pivotal step for L3Harris in meeting increasing defense demands and illustrates its commitment to enhancing U.S. military capabilities amid ongoing global conflicts.

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