The facility, named the “Arsenal of Freedom” building, is part of a wider expansion adding almost 1 million square feet of missile-production capacity. Kubasik said L3Harris was investing in new facilities to meet accelerating demand for missiles and interceptors.
Robotic systems will move motors between production stations at the new plant. Automated equipment will handle mixing, casting, curing and X-ray inspection, while artificial intelligence will be used to improve yields and reduce costs.
“The conversations we’re having with the Pentagon are no longer about whether we can deliver, but how many can we produce and how fast we can go,” Kubasik said. He described the shift as a complete turnaround from the company’s position a year earlier.
The GMLRS investment forms part of a broader overhaul of L3Harris’ missile operations following its acquisition of Aerojet Rocketdyne. The company combined its propulsion activities with capabilities covering seekers, antennas, fuzes, advanced effects and deep-space launch systems, Kubasik said.
L3Harris has increased research-and-development and capital spending in the missile business tenfold. Missile deliveries have risen by more than 60%, operational efficiency has improved by 22% and substantially all delinquent deliveries have been eliminated, according to Kubasik.
A $1 billion government investment gave L3Harris the confidence to accelerate its expansion plans by 12 to 18 months. Kubasik said the company began investing before long-term framework agreements were completed, allowing the GMLRS rocket-motor plant to enter operation earlier.
Additional missile-production facilities are under construction, including a new PAC-3 plant scheduled to open in late 2027. Kubasik said the broader capacity expansion would take several years before producing its largest increases in revenue and profitability.
L3Harris is also negotiating more than $20 billion in potential new missile contracts, which could triple the business’s backlog. The company is focused on converting demand into orders, completing new production capacity and increasing deliveries, Kubasik said.
