In a significant move to enhance its capabilities, Northrop Grumman has inaugurated a new Missile Integration Facility located in West Virginia. This facility, integrated into the company’s Allegany Ballistics Laboratory at Rocket Center, aims to streamline various processes involved in missile production, including production, assembly, testing, and shipping. Utilizing advanced digital manufacturing techniques, the facility has the capacity to produce up to 300 advanced strike missiles annually.
The opening of this facility is part of Northrop Grumman’s overarching strategy to mitigate logistical challenges, expedite delivery schedules, and enhance quality control in its production line. It represents a substantial investment, contributing to a total of at least $1 billion that the company has committed to high-tech manufacturing enhancements since 2018. “This ensures we’ve got the capacity needed to meet growing customer demand and support a resilient defense industrial base now and in the future,” remarked Vice President and General Manager Frank DeMauro.
The expansion of missile production comes as the defense industry faces an increasing demand for advanced weaponry. Northrop Grumman highlighted that this growth will bolster the output of essential capabilities necessary to replenish stockpiles that support both the United States and its allied forces.
Moreover, this new facility underscores a broader trend towards improved industrial resilience within the defense sector. Analysts have pointed out that fragmented supply chains and antiquated infrastructure often hinder sustainable production, especially in critical areas like propulsion systems, energetics, and precision guidance components.
In a parallel development, the US Army, alongside General Dynamics, launched a load-assemble-pack factory in Camden, Arkansas, in April 2025. This facility is designed to produce at least 50,000 155mm high-explosive shells monthly, further demonstrating a concerted effort to bolster munitions production capacity.
Senator Shelley Moore Capito commented on the importance of expanding production capabilities, stating, “Expanding our capacity to produce the world’s most advanced munitions is vital to ensuring that our men and women in uniform have the tools they need to deter aggression or prevail in a future conflict.” This sentiment encapsulates the current momentum in the defense sector toward modernization and increased output in response to an evolving global security landscape.
