Lockheed Martin broke ground on its new Missile System Integration Lab in Huntsville Monday. The company said that it is investing in innovation, celebrating a milestone marking continued growth, and advancing capability in North Alabama at its Huntsville campus with the groundbreaking on the new facility.
The Missile System Integration Lab (MSIL) facility will initially be used exclusively for development within Lockheed Martin’s Next Generation Interceptor (NGI) program. That program, which supports the Missile Defense Agency to protect the homeland against ballistic missile threats, will be based in Huntsville. The 25,000 square-foot MSIL facility is a $16.5 million investment in Huntsville by Lockheed Martin. The company said that the investment demonstrates the company’s commitment to the defense of our nation, to the warfighter, and to its customers.
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey (R), U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama), Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, and Madison County Commissioner and GOP congressional nominee Dale Strong were among the dignitaries that joined company officials at the ceremonial groundbreaking.
“Folks, I’ll say this: when our country needs us, Alabama is ready to answer the call,” Ivey said. “Today is another great example of Alabama doing just that, and Lockheed Martin is reminding the world of Alabamians’ willingness and ability to step up to the plate.”
“Lockheed Martin has had a presence in the Huntsville community since 1963, and the new facility adds to our advanced portfolio to ensure engineering rigor through ground testing and integration, validating our approach well before we flight test,” said Sarah Reeves, Vice President of the Next Generation Interceptor Program at Lockheed Martin. “The facility will be equipped with key infrastructure and communication capabilities, integrating the digital thread in all that we do and maturing the All Up Round as we prove out our design.”
“This new facility will grow Lockheed's footprint in our region, and I am happy to support such a great community partner,” said Strong.
The Lockheed Martin Space workforce is expected to grow by over 200 employees this year at its sites in Huntsville and Courtland, where it operates a digital factory to advance hypersonic technologies.
Lockheed Martin is continuing to grow its presence in Alabama – supporting key supplier outreach efforts, workforce development, and academic partnerships in the area beyond the 25 facilities in the state.
"We look forward to the potential of additional expansions in North Alabama to support our nation’s high-priority missions," the company said in a statement.
Lockheed Martin is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland. It is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 114,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services.
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