First combat use of the Army’s new long‑range weapon in Iran drives accelerated production as Camden, Arkansas, emerges as a critical hub in U.S. missile manufacturing.
First combat use of the Army’s new long‑range weapon in Iran drives accelerated production as Camden, Arkansas, emerges as a critical hub in U.S. missile manufacturing.
By Arkansas Delta Informer Staff
East Camden, Ark. — March 25, 2026 – Missiles built in south Arkansas played a direct role in Operation Epic Fury, the U.S. military campaign in Iran, and now Lockheed Martin is moving to dramatically expand production in Camden following the weapon’s first confirmed combat use.
On today (Wednesday, March 25), Lockheed Martin announced it is once again accelerating its footprint in south Arkansas, announcing a new framework agreement with the U.S. Department of War to dramatically increase production of the Precision Strike Missile (PrSM), a next‑generation long‑range weapon now entering full‑rate production.
The expansion further cements Camden and the sprawling Highland Industrial Park as one of the most critical hubs in the nation’s defense‑manufacturing base. Under the new agreement, Lockheed Martin will quadruple PrSM production, building on a previous $4.94 billion U.S. Army contract awarded a year ago.
The missile, designed to replace the aging Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS), offers extended range, increased lethality, and greater flexibility across multiple launch platforms.
The deal comes less than a month after the U.S. Central Command confirmed that long-range PrSM was used in combat for the first time during Operation Epic Fury, the military campaign in Iran authorized by President Trump on March 1.
“We are working closely with the Department of War and the U.S. Army to scale production to meet operational demand and ensure the joint force has the capabilities needed to deter and defeat emerging threats,” said Lockheed Martin President and CEO Jim Taiclet.
Camden at the Center of Precision Fires
While the announcement has national implications, its impact is especially significant in Camden, where Lockheed Martin maintains extensive missile manufacturing and assembly operations. According to the company, PrSM production in Camden currently utilizes more than 115,500 square feet of dedicated production space and employs approximately 400 workers on the program.
The expansion of PrSM production builds on momentum already well documented by the Arkansas Delta Informer. In January, Lockheed Martin announced that its Camden facility would triple output of the PAC‑3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) interceptor, increasing annual production from roughly 600 to 2,000 units under a landmark Pentagon framework agreement. That deal positioned Camden at the forefront of the Department of Defense’s new Acquisition Transformation Strategy.
Together, the PAC‑3 and PrSM expansions signal a sustained, long‑term surge in missile manufacturing at the Highland Industrial Park, reinforcing Camden’s status as Lockheed Martin’s Precision Fires Center of Excellence.
From Development to Combat Use
The Precision Strike Missile program has moved rapidly from development to deployment. In July 2025, the U.S. Army granted Milestone C approval, clearing PrSM for full‑rate production and operational fielding.
Earlier this month, U.S. Central Command confirmed that PrSM was used in combat for the first time during Operation Epic Fury, marking the system’s operational debut and validating years of investment in long‑range precision fires.
Lockheed Martin officials say Camden’s workforce and infrastructure were crucial to achieving that quick transition. Established in 1979, the Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control facility in Camden has produced over 700,000 missiles and rockets. The 2.2-million-square-foot facility sits on 2,427 acres with space for future growth. Today, Lockheed Martin Camden Operations employs more than 1,100 people.
Acquisition Reform Drives Industrial Growth
The PrSM expansion is part of a broader shift in Pentagon procurement policy designed to give defense manufacturers long‑term demand certainty, allowing them to invest aggressively in facilities, tooling, and workforce development. Lockheed Martin has already leveraged similar framework agreements to triple PAC‑3 MSE interceptor capacity and quadruple production of THAAD interceptors, many of which rely on components and systems produced or supported in south Arkansas.
“Lockheed Martin delivers the advanced precision fires capabilities the warfighter needs,” said Taiclet.
What Comes Next for South Arkansas
Looking ahead, Lockheed Martin plans a multibillion‑dollar investment over the next three years to modernize and expand more than 20 facilities across five states, including Arkansas. The company says upgrades will include advanced manufacturing techniques, new production lines, modern tooling, and reconfigured plant layouts designed to sustain high‑rate missile production.
For East Camden, Calhoun, and Ouachita counties and surrounding communities, the latest PrSM announcement reinforces a trend the Arkansas Delta Informer has tracked closely: the transformation of south Arkansas into a cornerstone of the nation’s modern “Arsenal of Freedom,” with defense manufacturing driving jobs, capital investment, and long‑term economic stability across the region.
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