L3Harris Technologies has broken ground on two new buildings at its Arkansas Advanced Propulsion Facilities (AAPF) campus in Camden.
The new facilities are intended to increase production capabilities for the US Army’s PAC-3 propulsion systems, the company stated in its 24 June release.
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The two new buildings will consist of an approximately 75,000ft2 area dedicated to casting, curing and final assembly, as well as a 70,000ft2 case preparation facility.
L3Harris stated that the sites will feature manufacturing technologies such as automated X-ray inspection systems utilising artificial intelligence for defect detection, fully automated casting processes, and expanded curing capacity to help speed up output.
L3Harris chairman and CEO Christopher Kubasik said: “We’re self-funding these new facilities in Arkansas to move at the speed this mission requires.
“This expansion boosts our ability to deliver PAC 3 propulsion faster and at greater quantities, while strengthening military readiness and providing proven capability our warfighters depend on.”
The facilities aim to strengthen the Department of War’s (DoW) modernised Arsenal of Freedom and support the country’s ability to meet growing requirements.
L3Harris has been manufacturing core components for the PAC-3 MSE interceptor, including the advanced two-pulse solid rocket motor, Attitude Control Motors, and the Lethality Enhancer.
The wider AAPF campus was originally established with the support of local leaders in 2025, as L3Harris works to build modernised solid rocket motor manufacturing sites in strategic regions of the US.
The AAPF will focus on producing medium and large solid rocket motors for use in tactical and air defence missiles, missile defence targets, interceptors, hypersonic vehicles, and other developing missile defence applications.
Across its operations in Alabama, Arkansas, and Virginia, the company is constructing around 60 facilities, comprising nearly one million additional square feet of manufacturing space.
In April this year, L3Harris reached an agreement with the Orange County Board of Supervisors to invest $1.27bn in establishing the Virginia Advanced Propulsion Facilities, a development that is expected to more than double the company’s rocket motor manufacturing capacity in Orange County, Virginia.
