The agreement includes an investment of more than $150 million over the next five years. According to the company, the funding will support growth at Lockheed Martin’s Pike County Operations facility and strengthen its manufacturing capabilities.
Lockheed Martin Pike County Operations has expanded significantly since opening in 1994. The facility has developed into an important contributor to the economy of southeast Alabama.
The site manufactures and supports hardware for several key missile and weapon systems. These include the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense weapon system, the Javelin missile, the HELLFIRE missile, the JASSM missile and the Long Range Anti-Ship Missile.
The facility is located in northern Pike County on approximately 3,800 acres. It currently employs more than 800 people.
Since 2019, the site has created more than 300 new full-time jobs. The latest investment is intended to further expand production capacity and workforce development as demand for advanced defense systems increases.
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey said the company’s continued investment highlights the strength of the state’s aerospace sector. “Lockheed Martin has been a longtime pillar of Alabama’s aerospace industry, and we are thrilled to see the company’s continued investment in our state.”
She also emphasized the role of the local workforce in supporting the company’s success. “This latest expansion is a testament to the hard work of the highly skilled workforce in Pike County, and the innovative, Alabama-made products that keep turning heads on the global stage.”
Jen McManus, vice president of site production operations at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, said the investment reflects the company’s longstanding partnership with the state. “This continued investment in Pike County Operations is a credit to the long history of partnership across every level of government within the state of Alabama, and more importantly, the phenomenal performance of the Alabama workforce that produces a quality product for our customers that perform when it matters most.”
State officials also highlighted the broader impact of Lockheed Martin’s presence in Alabama. Ellen McNair, secretary of commerce, said the company plays an important role in the state’s growing aerospace industry.
“Alabama’s aerospace industry continues its impressive growth trajectory, thanks to companies like Lockheed Martin that have set a standard of excellence in manufacturing products that are in high demand in markets around the world,” McNair said. “The success shows that the company’s strategic vision, an expert workforce and supportive community partnerships are a winning combination.”
Workforce development has been an important element of the facility’s growth. Alabama Industrial Development Training, the state’s workforce development agency, has supported Lockheed Martin’s Pike County operations for more than 30 years.
In 2017, the agency opened a $2 million, 7,000-square-foot Advanced Training Center on its campus. The center provides hands-on training programs designed to prepare workers to meet increasing production demands.
Lockheed Martin has also introduced educational initiatives aimed at developing future talent. In 2019, the company launched a program that trains local high school students for careers through a hands-on classroom curriculum.
The program now operates in three local school systems. It provides students with a pathway into science, technology, engineering and mathematics careers within the aerospace and defense sector.
Source: Lockheed Martin.
