Lockheed Martin dedicated the expansion of its state-of-the-art Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) Missile production complex in Camden, AR, during a ribbon cutting ceremony today. The company anticipates that the new facility will allow for continued production expansion and modest employment growth over the next several years.

The new 72,000 square-foot PAC-3 All Up Round (AUR) II building is located on Camden Operations' campus adjacent to the existing 52,000-square-foot PAC-3 AUR I facility.

"The dedication of the new building marks our continued investment in the state of Arkansas and Lockheed Martin's commitment to developing and manufacturing the PAC-3 Missile here in Camden," said Glenn David Woods, site director of Lockheed Martin Missile and Fire Control's Camden Operations. "Our Camden employees are proud to play a pivotal role in producing the world's most advanced terminal air defense missile that serves our Warfighters in their defining moments."

"This expansion reaffirms our strong commitment to the U.S. Army and the Camden community," said Richard McDaniel, director of the PAC-3 Programs for Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. "Through this expansion, we will be able to maintain the high level of quality and performance that our customers demand and accommodate future program growth."

Camden Operations is the final assembly site for the Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) line of launchers and precision-strike guided rockets; the transformational High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launcher; the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) Launcher and Fire Control System; and the PAC-3 Missile, currently the world's only fielded, combat-proven terminal air defense missile employing hit-to-kill technology.

The PAC-3 Missile defeats the entire Patriot Air Defense System threat spectrum: tactical ballistic missiles, evolving cruise missiles and fixed and rotary winged aircraft. PAC-3 Missiles significantly increase the Patriot system's firepower, since 16 PAC-3s load out on a Patriot launcher, compared with four legacy Patriot PAC-2 missiles.

Lockheed Martin achieved the first-ever hit-to-kill intercept of a ballistic missile target in 1984 with the Homing Overlay Experiment, using force of impact alone to destroy a mock warhead outside of the Earth's atmosphere. Further development and testing produced today's PAC-3 Missile, which won a competition in 1993 to become the first hit-to-kill interceptor produced by the U.S. government. The PAC-3 Missile has been the technology pathfinder for today's total conversion to kinetic energy interceptors for all modern missile defense systems.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 136,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2009 sales of $45.2 billion.

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SOURCE: Lockheed Martin