L3Harris Expands Production for GMLRS Propulsion Units

Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) units are used across land-based defense applications that require consistent propulsion performance, stable energetics, and high reliability under varying operational conditions. In this context, L3Harris Technologies has received a follow-on production contract valued at up to $200 million to manufacture GMLRS Insensitive Munition (IM) propulsion units. These IM propulsion units are designed to reduce the risk of unplanned detonation caused by external shocks, thermal exposure, or ballistic impact, a requirement increasingly prioritized in modern military systems.

Production Capacity Expansion and Facility Modernization
The order marks the first major program to be processed through the company’s newly constructed manufacturing facility in Camden, Arkansas. The plant, funded through a Defense Production Act Title III cooperative agreement, increases L3Harris’ annual solid rocket motor production capacity by more than 30%. The expansion addresses growing demand for GMLRS propulsion units, which have seen sustained use in international defense operations.

L3Harris has produced these propulsion units for several decades and has incorporated automation, modern energetics handling processes, and updated quality-control systems to increase output. According to the company, adoption of advanced manufacturing techniques has contributed to an output increase of nearly 80% compared with earlier production baselines. This increase reflects improvements in both throughput and component reliability.

Integrated Manufacturing Across Multiple Sites
To accelerate production and meet higher delivery volumes, the energetics portion of the propulsion units is being manufactured at the new 60,000-square-foot facility in Camden, while inert component production is carried out at the Advanced Manufacturing Facility–South in Huntsville, Alabama. The separation of energetics and inert component lines aligns with established safety protocols for solid rocket motor manufacturing and allows both sites to operate with optimized workflows.

Contract Significance and Program Scope
This follow-on award is the largest GMLRS IM production contract L3Harris has received from Lockheed Martin for a 12-month period of performance. The contract underscores the company’s ongoing role in supplying propulsion systems that support high-volume missile programs, where consistent delivery timelines, safety-compliant energetics, and scalable production capacity are key decision criteria for defense contractors and end-users.

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