Deep within the scenic Virginia countryside, L3Harris is transforming its Orange County facility. This expansion is set to boost the production of small and medium solid rocket motors, which are essential components for the effective Javelin antitank weapon.
With assistance from the Defense Production Act aimed at replenishing weapon supplies to Ukraine, L3Harris’ Aerojet Rocketdyne is setting up cutting-edge production facilities. These will focus on the casting and assembly of rocket motors, mixing and grinding operations, and upgraded testing capabilities.
Since the onset of the Russian invasion in February 2022, over 10,000 Javelin systems have been sent to Ukraine by the United States. This has resulted in a need to replenish stocks. The Javelin missile, developed through a collaboration between Lockheed Martin and Raytheon, relies on Aerojet Rocketdyne for its rocket motors.
Lockheed Martin is on a mission to increase its production from 2,400 to nearly 4,000 Javelin missiles annually by 2026, necessitating Aerojet’s increased output.
To meet this demand, Aerojet is establishing five new buildings, transitioning its operations for small and medium rocket motors from Camden, Arkansas, to Orange County. This ambitious project is primarily funded by a portion of the $215 million received under the Defense Production Act for capacity enhancement.
Scott Alexander, president of L3Harris’ missile solutions, shared plans to conclude construction by late 2026, with production slated to begin in early 2027.
For 30 years, the company has been nestled in the Shenandoah hills, crafting motors for major programs like the Standard Missile and NASA’s Artemis program. This area serves as a hub for propellant research and solid rocket motor production, featuring advanced testing facilities for technologies such as ramjet and scramjet.
L3Harris is also expanding in Camden, Arkansas, with a 60,000-square-foot facility to increase production of rocket motors used in the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System, crucial for the Army’s High Mobility Artillery Rocket System. This system plays a vital role in supporting Ukraine against Russian forces.
Additionally, the firm is relocating its inert components, like motor cases, to Huntsville, Alabama.
Since acquiring Aerojet Rocketdyne in 2023, L3Harris has doubled its investment in the company’s solid rocket motor production efforts, according to Alexander.
Julie Wikete, Aerojet’s Orange site director, highlighted the use of automation and robotics in the new facilities. “How do we improve the overall experience here?” she said. “We’re able to leverage a lot of that more future factory approach that’s going to lend ourselves directly to increasing the overall output of Javelin.”
These advancements will enhance production capacity by 20%, with strategic designs reducing the distance traveled during production by 90%, according to Wikete. “We are reducing the overall time to build, which just immediately translates to faster out the door,” she added.
This expansion signifies notable growth, though the number of new hires required remains under evaluation. “We’re always hiring,” Wikete mentioned. “Javelin is one program that is coming here … we are also growing in other areas.”
Alexander noted the benefits of new production practices, saying, “You take a lot of the human factor out of that, but also it is more efficient and so ultimately that is going to affect the cost per round in terms of it being economical.”
