**CULPEPER, Virginia** — L3Harris has commenced extensive clearing of forested areas and the construction of roads as part of a significant expansion at its Orange County facility for the production of small and medium solid rocket motors. These rocket motors are integral components for the Javelin antitank weapon system.
As part of the **Defense Production Act**, which aims to expedite the replenishment of weapons supplied to Ukraine, L3Harris’ Aerojet Rocketdyne is establishing state-of-the-art facilities for solid rocket motor production, including casting, assembly, mixing, and grinding operations, alongside upgrades to its testing plant.
Since **February 2022**, when Russia began its invasion of Ukraine, the U.S. has dispatched over **10,000 Javelin systems**. Currently, efforts are underway to restore the depleted stock, with Javelin being a collaborative project between **Lockheed Martin** and **Raytheon**. Aerojet Rocketdyne plays a critical role by supplying the rocket motors essential for this weapon.
Lockheed Martin has plans to increase annual Javelin missile production from **2,400** to nearly **4,000** by **2026**. To meet this demand, Aerojet will need to enhance its production capacity.
Aerojet is constructing **five new buildings** to transfer all operations related to the production of small and medium rocket motors, particularly those for the Javelin, from **Camden, Arkansas**, to **Orange County**. This expansion is being funded in part by **$215 million** received through the Defense Production Act aimed at ramping up production capacity.
The targeted completion date for construction is set for the **third or fourth quarter of 2026**, with production expected to commence in early **2027**, as stated by **Scott Alexander**, L3Harris’ missile solutions president.
L3Harris has been operating in the Shenandoah hills for **30 years**, producing various rocket motors for prominent programs such as the **Standard Missile**, the **Trident II D5**, and NASA’s **Artemis** program. The site houses a center of excellence for propellant research and solid rocket motor production, along with a comprehensive testing facility that includes ramjet and scramjet technology development.
In addition to the expansion in Virginia, L3Harris has also broken ground on new facilities in **Camden, Arkansas**, including a **60,000 square-foot** setup that will enhance the production of rocket motors used in the **Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System** employed by the Army’s **High Mobility Artillery Rocket System**—another key piece of equipment aiding Ukraine against the Russian invasion. Furthermore, all inert components, such as motor cases, will be relocated to **Huntsville, Alabama**.
Overall, L3Harris has doubled its internal investment in Aerojet’s solid rocket motor production since the acquisition in **2023**, according to Alexander.
The new facilities in Orange County will incorporate advancements in automation and robotics. **Julie Wikete**, Aerojet’s Orange site director, highlighted the focus on improving operational efficiency. By employing strategic building and production line designs, the company expects to raise its overall production capacity for Javelin solid rocket motors by **20%** while significantly reducing material transit distances across the facility.
“This results in a shorter production time, which translates to quicker delivery,” Wikete emphasized.
Although the expansion signifies substantial growth, the precise number of additional employees required at the facility is still under assessment. “We’re always hiring,” Wikete noted, mentioning that the Javelin program is one area of growth while other initiatives are also in development.
Innovative practices incorporating robotics and automation aim to improve statistical reliability and overall efficiency in manufacturing. Alexander explained that reducing human error not only enhances production quality but also contributes to a more economical cost per round for the rockets produced.
**Jenn Judson** is a noted journalist who specializes in land warfare reporting for **Defense News** and has previously worked with **Politico** and **Inside Defense**. She holds a Master of Science degree in journalism from **Boston University** and a Bachelor of Arts degree from **Kenyon College**.
