Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) and General Dynamics (NYSE: GD) announced significant progress in the joint development of solid rocket motor (SRM) production. The two teams officially broke ground in April on critical infrastructure to support this effort and have been working diligently to meet development milestones and advance the U.S. defense industrial base.
Since breaking ground, the collaboration has focused on building supply chain resilience and bringing advanced propulsion capabilities to market. The program recently achieved several key milestones, including the progression of major subcomponent design and testing, a critical design review of all SRM elements, and the execution of a full scale inert SRM build validating critical tooling, assembly, and production processes to ensure reliability and repeatability in manufacturing.
The new General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems (GDOTS) solid rocket motor manufacturing site in Camden, Arkansas, spans 270 acres and will feature over 50,000 square feet of production space across 16 purpose-built facilities, supporting the full lifecycle of solid rocket motor development and manufacturing. The site remains on track for completion to support the qualification builds planned in 2026. This effort will create nearly 100 new jobs, contributing to regional economic growth and supporting the long-term sustainability of the program.
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Download free sample pages More information“We are very pleased with the steady progress we are making in the development and production of solid rocket motors," said Jerry Brode, vice president of Lockheed Martin's Solid Rocket Motor Product Center. “Successfully hitting these critical design and production milestones highlights the momentum behind the program and strong industry collaboration. Together with our partners, we are creating a new source of supply for a critical component of the nation’s defense.”
“This state-of-the-art facility marks a pivotal moment for our solid-propulsion portfolio. By combining trusted manufacturing approaches with proven automation, we are building the resilience needed to guarantee reliable, high-quality and on-time delivery of SRMs at production scale," said Chris Haynes, senior vice president of GDOTS. "This partnership not only accelerates our innovation cycle — bringing increased scale and more cost-effective motors to our customers faster — but also reinforces the robust and trusted supply network for this mission critical capability.”
Looking ahead, the team is preparing for the next major milestone, a static test of the solid rocket motor. This will mark a critical step in validating performance and readiness for future phases of development. Lockheed Martin and General Dynamics remain committed to building supply chain resilience and bringing advanced propulsion capabilities to market at speed and scale.
