Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth Visits L3Harris Technologies Camden Solid Rocket Motor Facility as Part of “Arsenal of Freedom” Tour
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth visited the Camden, Arkansas site of L3Harris Technologies as part of his nationwide “Arsenal of Freedom” tour, underscoring the critical role of American manufacturing in reinforcing the U.S. defense industrial base and ensuring readiness for U.S. and allied warfighters; the visit spotlighted the strategic importance of domestic propulsion production capacity at a time when global security challenges demand rapid scalability, reliability and sustained innovation across missile and deterrence programs
Tour Highlights Solid Rocket Motor Production and Workforce Excellence
During his visit, Secretary Hegseth toured multiple solid rocket motor production facilities at the Camden site and met with the approximately 1,500 skilled employees who design, engineer and manufacture propulsion systems for some of the nation’s most vital missile programs; the Camden workforce plays a central role in producing more than 115,000 solid rocket motors annually, supporting air and missile defense, strategic deterrence, hypersonic development and advanced interceptor programs that protect the homeland and allied nations
Reinforcing the Arsenal of Freedom for the 21st Century
Addressing employees on site, Secretary Hegseth emphasized the significance of their work to the broader defense mission, thanking them for serving as the backbone of the department and describing the Camden operation as central to the 21st Century Arsenal of Freedom; he noted that the scale of production achieved at the facility ensures that American warfighters maintain decisive advantages, highlighting that the annual output of solid rocket motors represents a manufacturing capability unmatched globally and vital to ensuring U.S. forces are never placed at a disadvantage
Strategic Deterrence Through Industrial Capacity
Christopher Kubasik, Chairman and CEO of L3Harris Technologies, echoed the Secretary’s remarks by emphasizing that industrial capacity itself has become a cornerstone of deterrence strategy; he stated that the ability to deliver advanced propulsion systems at scale, with speed and reliability, directly influences how effectively the United States deters adversaries and projects peace through strength, reinforcing the idea that manufacturing throughput and modernization are now strategic assets comparable to the systems they produce
Supporting Critical Missile Programs Including MIM-104 Patriot PAC-3
While at the site, Secretary Hegseth engaged with teams responsible for producing propulsion systems that power the PAC-3 air and missile defense system, a key component of U.S. and allied integrated air defense architectures; the solid rocket motors built in Camden also support large-scale strategic deterrence programs, advanced interceptors, hypersonic weapons initiatives and target missile systems used for testing and readiness validation, demonstrating the breadth of applications supported by the facility
Munitions Acceleration Council Programs and Expanded Output
L3Harris is investing billions of dollars to modernize and expand its manufacturing footprint nationwide, including significant upgrades at Camden designed to support programs prioritized by the Department of Defense and the Munitions Acceleration Council; these investments aim to dramatically increase solid rocket motor production capacity, ensuring that the U.S. military can meet both peacetime sustainment needs and surge requirements during periods of heightened demand
Arkansas Advanced Propulsion Facilities (AAPF) Expansion
A focal point of the Secretary’s visit was a review of construction progress at the new Arkansas Advanced Propulsion Facilities campus, an expansive 110-acre development that will significantly enhance medium and large solid rocket motor production; the AAPF campus will include more than 20 new buildings and is designed to increase large solid rocket motor manufacturing capacity sixfold, representing one of the most substantial propulsion infrastructure expansions in the country
Advanced Manufacturing, Automation and Digital Integration
The AAPF expansion incorporates state-of-the-art manufacturing technologies, advanced automation systems and digital process controls engineered by L3Harris to optimize safety, efficiency and throughput; these enhancements are intended not only to accelerate production timelines but also to provide long-term domestic surge capacity, ensuring that the United States retains sovereign control over critical propulsion manufacturing and can rapidly scale output in response to emerging threats
Camden: One of the Nation’s Largest Solid Rocket Motor Centers
The 2,000-acre Camden site stands as one of the largest solid rocket motor manufacturing centers in the United States and has supported national and allied defense missions for more than four decades; its infrastructure, workforce expertise and sustained investment position it as a cornerstone of the American missile industrial base, delivering thousands of propulsion units annually across a diverse portfolio of defense programs
Transformation Following 2023 Acquisition
L3Harris acquired the solid rocket motor business in 2023 and has since undertaken a comprehensive transformation of its production operations to align with increasing Department of Defense demand for missile and deterrence capabilities; the company has streamlined processes, expanded facilities and implemented digital modernization initiatives to ensure production levels meet evolving national security requirements while maintaining rigorous quality and safety standards
Investing Billions to Meet Department of Defense Demand
Operating within a competitive propulsion market, L3Harris has committed billions of dollars to expand capacity, modernize facilities and strengthen supply chains; these investments are aligned with Department of Defense objectives to rebuild and fortify the defense industrial base, ensuring consistent delivery timelines, improved resilience against supply disruptions and sustained readiness across critical weapons programs
Workforce Engagement and Patriotism
Secretary Hegseth’s engagement with employees underscored the human element behind propulsion manufacturing, recognizing the engineers, technicians and production specialists whose daily work translates into tangible defense capability; he described the Camden workforce as patriots whose contributions ensure that American and allied warfighters maintain technological and operational superiority across evolving domains of conflict
Industrial Base as a Pillar of National Security Strategy
The visit reinforced a broader strategic theme that manufacturing capacity and supply chain resilience are integral to national defense planning; as geopolitical competition intensifies, the ability to produce propulsion systems rapidly and at scale is increasingly viewed as a decisive advantage, transforming industrial infrastructure into a central pillar of deterrence and strategic stability
Domestic Surge Capacity and Long-Term Readiness
The Arkansas Advanced Propulsion Facilities project exemplifies the shift toward building enduring domestic surge capacity; by integrating automation, digital controls and scalable production lines, L3Harris aims to ensure that U.S. missile programs can accelerate output without compromising safety or quality, supporting both immediate operational needs and long-term modernization objectives
Plans for Potential Initial Public Offering
As part of its strategic roadmap, L3Harris intends to pursue an initial public offering of its solid rocket motor business in the second half of the year, a move that could unlock additional capital to support continued expansion, technological innovation and capacity growth; this planned IPO reflects confidence in the propulsion segment’s growth trajectory and its central role within the broader defense market
Strengthening the Defense Industrial Base for Future Challenges
Secretary Hegseth’s visit to the Camden facility highlighted the interconnected relationship between policy leadership, industrial investment and frontline readiness; by touring production lines, engaging with employees and reviewing expansion efforts, he underscored the administration’s emphasis on revitalizing American manufacturing as a means of strengthening deterrence and ensuring that U.S. forces and allied partners remain equipped with reliable, high-performance propulsion systems
A Modern Arsenal Rooted in Manufacturing Excellence
The Camden site’s evolution, ongoing expansion and integration of advanced technologies illustrate how modern defense capability is rooted not only in weapon design but also in manufacturing excellence; as L3Harris continues to scale production, invest in innovation and align with Department of Defense priorities, the facility stands as a tangible embodiment of the 21st Century Arsenal of Freedom, delivering the propulsion systems that power the nation’s most critical defense platforms and reinforcing the United States’ commitment to maintaining peace through strength.
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