Last week, the U.S. government awarded Lockheed Martin a seven-year $35 billion contract to quadruple production of THAAD interceptors.

The news should mean job security for workers in south Arkansas as the East Camden Industrial Park manufactures and assembles various parts of the THAAD [Terminal High Altitude Area Defense] weapons.

Lockheed Martin expanded its operations in south Arkansas earlier this year, and accompanying defense contractors, such as L3 Harris which has a plant located in the industrial park, make parts for THAAD interceptors. Other Lockheed Martin locations that will benefit from this $35 billion contract include two factories in Alabama and the company’s Dallas operations.

“This new approach propels our efforts to strengthen the defense industrial base, expand production and deliver capabilities to the American warfighter at unprecedented speed and scale,” said Tim Cahill, president, Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control.

The award announced last week follows a $4.7 billion award in April to speed up production of Patriot missiles. With recent military activity in the war with Iran, American munitions have been diminished and this contract is one step toward replenishing the U.S. arsenal.

U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-Hot Springs, who represents south Arkansas, said in an interview with The Fordyce News Advocate last month that the region would soon benefit from more weapons manufacturing.

“If you look at the munitions that have been depleted – the tomahawk missiles, the patriot system and the high-altitude defense system – all or parts of all of that are built in Camden. So, the workload for Camden is going to expand as we replenish these munitions,” he said.

THAAD is the only U.S. system designed to intercept threats both inside and outside the atmosphere, providing a critical layer of missile defense. Its performance has been demonstrated in operations including the recent Operation Epic Fury.

Earlier this month, but on an unrelated note, Lockheed Martin announced it would boost its job numbers in Fort Smith by growing its local workforce from 110 to 230 employees as part of the F-35 fighter jet training program at Ebbing Air National Guard Base. The jobs will include F-35 aircraft mechanics, information technology specialists, logistics coordinators, and security personnel.