This period, Lockheed Martin's Camden, Arkansas plant became the centerpiece of a major defense contract. The U.S. Department of Defense awarded the company a record $58.6 billion contract to produce Patriot PAC-3 MSE interceptor missiles. The deal is expected to add 650 jobs locally and drive a significant expansion of production capacity.
- The U.S. Department of Defense awarded Lockheed Martin a $58.6 billion contract to produce Patriot PAC-3 MSE interceptor missiles at its Camden, Arkansas plant.
- The seven-year deal (2026-2032) aims to triple production capacity by 2030 and will add 650 jobs at the Camden facility.
- The Pentagon cited urgent demand to replenish stockpiles, with fewer than 1,000 Patriot interceptors remaining due to conflicts in Ukraine and Iran.