“If we’re serious about deterrence, we have to be serious about production,” Taiclet said in a social media statement. The Grand Prairie project will expand the facility’s footprint to more than 735,000 square feet to accelerate munitions production and strengthen the defense industrial base.
Taiclet said commercial manufacturing partnerships would accompany investment in workers and capacity. The hiring plans include 2,000 jobs in Texas.
“We’re bringing in the world’s most advanced commercial manufacturing technology through partnerships with companies like Hadrian, while at the same time investing in the people and capacity needed to meet growing demand,” he said. “That includes plans to create 6,000 jobs nationwide, with 2,000 in Texas.”
He also credited government acquisition changes with supporting industrial investment. His statement acknowledged Under Secretary of War Michael Duffey, Lockheed Martin executive Tim Cahill and partners GM Defense and Hadrian.
“The Department of War’s new approach to acquisition is creating the conditions for industry to invest with greater confidence and urgency,” Taiclet said. Lockheed Martin says commercially inspired contracts provide greater predictability for spending on personnel, equipment and supply chains.
In September, Lockheed Martin reported that GM Defense delivered its first PAC-3 MSE components 22 days after the companies signed a formal contract. Hadrian will supply a 24-machine automated machining cell at Grand Prairie, with operations expected in early 2027.
The Texas expansion is part of Lockheed Martin’s planned $8 billion–$9 billion investment through 2030 to increase munitions production and modernize or expand more than 20 U.S. facilities. Grand Prairie supports PAC-3 MSE, THAAD, PrSM and JATM programs.
