Lockheed Martin announced plans to create 6,000 jobs across the United States including 2,000 in Texas, as the company expands advanced manufacturing capacity to accelerate production of critical munitions.
At the center of that growth is Lockheed Martin’s Grand Prairie operation, where the company is investing $300 million and expanding its manufacturing footprint to more than 735,000 square feet. The expansion includes 100,000 square feet of new space and 85,000 square feet of office space being transformed for advanced manufacturing, creating additional capacity for automation, digital manufacturing and high-precision machining.
The company also announced today that Hadrian will bring an innovative, highly automated machining cell to the Grand Prairie facility, operated by the world-class Lockheed Martin production workforce. Expected to be operational in early 2027, the 24-machine cell will bring commercial-style manufacturing technology directly into Lockheed Martin’s production environment and add dedicated capacity for critical defense components.
The Big Picture
Lockheed Martin is building a manufacturing model designed for speed, scale and sustained production, bringing together the best of defense and commercial manufacturing to build a more resilient, automated and digitally integrated production model designed to deliver critical capabilities faster. The new Hadrian cell is the latest example of that strategy. It follows Lockheed Martin’s recently announced collaboration with GM Defense to apply commercial automotive manufacturing expertise to defense production.
Expert Perspective
“This expansion is more than just a new facility; it is a stronger supply chain and a more resilient industrial base,” said Michael P. Duffey, Under Secretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment. “Today in Grand Prairie, American industry is answering the call to support our warfighters.”…