“The Ramp Is Real”: Lockheed Martin Surges Missile Production to Unprecedented Levels Amid Rising Global Conflict

(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — “The ramp is real. And we’re ready.”

With that declaration, U.S. defence giant Lockheed Martin has confirmed a record expansion of its missile and rocket manufacturing capacity as global demand rises sharply in response to heightened security tensions in Europe, the Middle East, and the Indo-Pacific.

The company says its production surge covers nearly every major program in its portfolio, including the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (PAC-3 MSE), Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS), High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), Precision Strike Missile (PrSM), Javelin anti-tank weapon, Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM), Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM), and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD).

Lockheed Martin’s goal is to reach an annual output of approximately 19,000 missiles and rockets by 2025, more than doubling its pre-pandemic production volume.

Executives describe the move as a direct response to surging operational requirements from the United States and allied nations that have supplied large quantities of munitions to Ukraine and are preparing for extended deterrence operations across multiple regions.

Lockheed Martin’s expansion involves multi-billion-dollar investments in new facilities, digital manufacturing, automation, and supply-chain resilience to ensure faster throughput and long-term sustainability.

Each production line has been targeted for growth, with several programs already surpassing previous output records.

The company says the scaling effort is being coordinated closely with the U.S. Department of Defense to strengthen the “arsenal of democracy” and ensure steady delivery of critical munitions to domestic and international customers.

PAC-3 MSE: Highest-Ever Output

Lockheed Martin’s PAC-3 MSE interceptor remains one of the most in-demand air-defence systems in the world, credited with multiple combat interceptions against ballistic and cruise-missile threats.

More than 2,500 interceptors have already been delivered to date, with demand increasing from both the U.S. Army and 17 international operators including Japan, South Korea, Germany, the Netherlands, and Poland.

The company plans to produce over 600 PAC-3 MSEs in 2025, marking the first time the program will cross that annual threshold.

Production is expected to reach 650 units per year thereafter, supported by expanded tooling and workforce growth across Lockheed Martin’s Camden, Arkansas facility.

PAC-3 MSE provides hit-to-kill accuracy against advanced manoeuvring targets, using dual-pulse propulsion and active radar guidance.

Lockheed Martin says it continues to invest in component testing and software upgrades to maintain the interceptor’s reliability amid evolving missile threats.

GMLRS: 14,000 Rockets per Year

Production of the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) — a precision artillery rocket used by the U.S. and over a dozen partner nations — has accelerated sharply since the start of the Ukraine war.

More than 75,000 rockets have been delivered to date, and Lockheed Martin reports it is completing the ramp to a 14,000-unit annual capacity.

The company’s Camden, Arkansas plant has added advanced assembly automation to sustain higher volumes, while simultaneously introducing newer variants with extended range and alternative warhead options.

The U.S. Army’s modernization plans call for continued procurement of GMLRS well into the 2030s, ensuring a stable long-term production base.

The system’s demonstrated accuracy has made it a central component of allied artillery modernization in Europe and Asia.

HIMARS: Doubling Launcher Capacity

Lockheed Martin’s High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launcher line has also reached record pace.

Annual production has doubled from 48 to 96 units, completing the expansion ahead of schedule in late 2024.

The increase is backed by US$ 2.8 billion (RM 13.3 billion) in U.S. Army contracts aimed at replenishing inventories and meeting export commitments to allies.

The company has streamlined sub-assembly supply chains and expanded integration capacity to ensure faster delivery cycles.

HIMARS launchers, which can fire both GMLRS and PrSM missiles, are now in service or on order with more than 20 countries, including Poland, Romania, Australia, and Taiwan.

Lockheed Martin says the ramp will continue through 2026 to meet global requests for long-range precision-strike capability.

PrSM: 400 Missile Annual Capacity

The Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) program represents the U.S. Army’s next-generation deep-strike system designed to replace the aging ATACMS inventory.

Lockheed Martin is currently delivering Early Operational Capability rounds and expects to reach 400 missiles per year under a multi-year Indefinite Delivery / Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) award issued in March 2025.

The missile offers ranges exceeding 500 km, with future increments projected to extend beyond 700 km and incorporate enhanced seekers and multi-domain targeting capability.

The company has invested in surge-capacity tooling to enable rapid production increases should operational demand rise.

PrSM’s modular design allows simultaneous manufacturing of multiple increments without major reconfiguration, supporting both U.S. and future allied requirements.

Javelin: Expanding to 3,960 Units per Year

Lockheed Martin is also expanding production of the Javelin anti-tank missile, co-developed with Raytheon, to meet continued global demand.

The current line produces approximately 2,400 missiles annually, but upgrades now underway at the Pike County Operations facility in Troy, Alabama will increase capacity to 3,960 missiles per year by late 2026.

The enhancements include automation upgrades, process digitization, and expanded storage for warhead and guidance sub-assemblies.

Javelin’s combat record in Ukraine and other theatres has sustained high export interest among NATO members and Indo-Pacific partners.

Lockheed Martin says the ramp-up ensures “predictable and scalable output” as customer orders extend into the next decade.

JASSM and LRASM: Boosting Strategic Strike

In 2024, Lockheed Martin received a US$ 3.2 billion (RM 15.2 billion) undefinitized contract from the U.S. Air Force and Navy to increase production of the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) and Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM).

The JASSM-ER variant can engage targets at ranges exceeding 1,000 km, while the stealth-optimized LRASM provides autonomous maritime-targeting capability against advanced naval defences.

A separate Facilitization Phase III award in August 2024 funds additional assembly-line expansion and modernization to sustain long-term output.

Lockheed Martin notes that demand for these standoff missiles continues to grow as U.S. and allied forces prioritize survivable, precision strike options in contested environments.

Both systems are central to the Pentagon’s Indo-Pacific deterrence posture.

THAAD: Expanding Strategic Defence Production

Lockheed Martin’s Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptor program has gained new prominence following successful operational use in recent months.

The system, designed to intercept short- and medium-range ballistic missiles in their terminal phase, is in service with the United States, South Korea, and the United Arab Emirates.

The company says it is evaluating options to increase annual THAAD production significantly, leveraging existing tooling and supplier networks to support expanded orders.

The U.S. Missile Defense Agency continues to procure additional interceptors to enhance homeland and regional defence coverage.

Lockheed Martin adds that THAAD manufacturing lines are being optimized for faster cycle times and flexible lot sizes.

During the 12-day Iran–Israel war earlier this year, U.S. defence officials confirmed that stocks of THAAD interceptors have fallen to critically low levels following their operational use to counter a large wave of Iranian ballistic missile attacks on Israel and nearby U.S. facilities.

Multiple intercepts conducted by deployed THAAD batteries in the Middle East successfully neutralized incoming threats, but the intensive use of interceptors significantly depleted available reserves.

The U.S. Missile Defense Agency has since prioritized rapid replenishment of THAAD inventory, initiating emergency procurement and coordination with Lockheed Martin to restore stockpiles to pre-conflict levels.

Analysts say the sharp drawdown underscores the high consumption rate of advanced interceptors during modern large-scale missile engagements and validates Lockheed Martin’s ongoing effort to expand THAAD production capacity.

Industrial Infrastructure and Workforce Investment

Across all programs, Lockheed Martin is executing a multi-year infrastructure plan to expand manufacturing footprint, workforce, and digital integration.

New automation systems, robotics, and advanced analytics are being introduced to improve quality assurance and production efficiency.

The company has added or modernized more than 30 production cells since 2023 and continues to recruit specialized technicians and engineers nationwide.

Facilities in Arkansas, Alabama, Texas, and Florida form the backbone of its missile-production ecosystem.

Supply-chain resilience has become a top priority following pandemic-era disruptions and increased geopolitical risk in key component-sourcing regions.

Lockheed Martin is working with domestic suppliers to localize critical inputs such as propulsion systems, composite structures, and electronics assemblies.

Global Context and Strategic Drivers

Industry analysts link Lockheed Martin’s ramp-up directly to the shifting geopolitical environment.

The ongoing war in Ukraine has depleted Western stockpiles and demonstrated the sustained rate of munitions consumption in modern high-intensity conflict.

At the same time, rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific — driven by Chinese military activity around Taiwan and the South China Sea — are prompting Washington and its partners to strengthen regional deterrence networks.

The U.S. Department of Defense in September 2025 instructed major contractors to increase missile and rocket production rates under its “resilient munitions industrial base” initiative.

The Pentagon’s fiscal 2026 budget proposal allocates additional funding for munitions procurement, emphasizing long-range precision-strike and integrated air-and-missile-defence programs.

Lockheed Martin’s efforts align with these objectives and are supported by government “facilitization” programs designed to expand industrial capacity.

Export Demand and Allied Modernization

International demand for Lockheed Martin systems continues to grow.

Several NATO members — including Poland, Germany, and Romania — have signed multi-year contracts for HIMARS, PAC-3 MSE, and GMLRS.

In the Indo-Pacific, allies such as Australia and Japan are pursuing PrSM integration as part of long-range-strike modernization.

Middle Eastern partners are upgrading to THAAD and enhanced Patriot configurations to counter ballistic-missile threats.

Lockheed Martin says foreign military sales and direct commercial sales now represent a significant share of missile-segment revenue, supporting economies of scale for U.S. production lines.

Economic Impact and Supply-Chain Effects

The production expansion supports thousands of skilled jobs across Lockheed Martin’s facilities and its network of more than 2,000 suppliers in 37 U.S. states.

The company estimates that its missile and fire-control segment contributes several billion dollars annually to local economies through payroll, materials procurement, and infrastructure spending.

The U.S. Department of Defense considers the missile sector a critical element of national industrial strategy, ensuring both employment stability and technological advancement.

Lockheed Martin’s investments in additive manufacturing, robotics, and advanced materials are expected to yield long-term cost efficiencies and improved component reliability.

Outlook and Strategic Significance

Lockheed Martin’s current production goals are intended to sustain a high-tempo supply rate for at least the next five years.

Company officials indicate that additional growth beyond 2026 remains possible if allied demand and U.S. defence budgets continue to increase.

The expansion reinforces the United States’ ability to supply partners while maintaining its own readiness levels in a protracted crisis scenario.

Defence analysts note that industrial output — rather than total stockpiles — has become the key measure of strategic endurance.

Lockheed Martin’s broad portfolio diversification across short-, medium-, and long-range weapon systems positions it as a central pillar of U.S. and allied deterrence architecture.

The company’s message reflects that reality: “The ramp is real. And we’re ready.” — DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA