Troy, Ala. (WDNews) — Lockheed Martin has announced a major investment in southeast Alabama, signing an incentive agreement with the state to support continued growth at its Pike County production facility.
The agreement includes an investment of more than $150 million over the next five years and will create new full-time positions at the company’s Pike County Operations site. Officials say the expansion reinforces Lockheed Martin’s long-term commitment to Alabama’s workforce and growing demand for munitions production.
The Pike County facility, located north of Troy on roughly 3,800 acres, has been a key part of Alabama’s aerospace industry since opening in 1994. The site currently employs more than 800 workers and supports the production of hardware for several major missile and defense systems, including the THAAD weapon system, Javelin missile, HELLFIRE missile, JASSM and the Long Range Anti-Ship Missile.
Since 2019, the facility has added more than 300 new full-time jobs as demand for defense manufacturing has increased.
Gov. Kay Ivey praised the investment, saying Lockheed Martin continues to play a vital role in Alabama’s aerospace industry.
“Lockheed Martin has been a longtime pillar of Alabama’s aerospace industry, and we are thrilled to see the company’s continued investment in our state,” Ivey said. “This latest expansion is a testament to the hard work of the highly skilled workforce in Pike County, and the innovative, Alabama-made products that keep turning heads on the global stage.”
Jen McManus, vice president of site production operations for Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, credited strong partnerships and the performance of the Alabama workforce.
“This continued investment in Pike County Operations is a credit to the long history of partnership across every level of government within the state of Alabama, and more importantly, the phenomenal performance of the Alabama workforce that produces a quality product for our customers that perform when it matters most,” McManus said.
State Commerce Secretary Ellen McNair said the expansion reflects the continued growth of Alabama’s aerospace sector.
“Alabama’s aerospace industry continues its impressive growth trajectory, thanks to companies like Lockheed Martin that have set a standard of excellence in manufacturing products that are in high demand in markets around the world,” McNair said.
Workforce development has also played a key role in the facility’s growth. Alabama Industrial Development Training has supported Lockheed Martin’s Pike County operations for more than 30 years and opened a $2 million Advanced Training Center in 2017 to provide hands-on training for workers.
The company also launched a program in 2019 that prepares high school students for careers in aerospace manufacturing through classroom and hands-on training. The initiative now operates in three local school systems, helping create pathways into STEM careers for students across the region.
