Lockheed Martin and Italian aerospace company Avio have signed a strategic cooperation agreement to produce solid rocket motors (SRMs), aiming to expand the U.S. industrial base and strengthen supply chain resilience for key defense systems.
Initial production will focus on SRMs for Lockheed Martin’s Extended Range GMLRS® (ER GMLRS) and Precision Strike Missile (PrSM). Manufacturing will take place at Avio USA’s new facility in Hurt, Virginia. The agreement gives Lockheed Martin preferred access to a portion of Avio’s production capacity to help meet rising customer demand.
Avio plans to invest more than $500 million in new U.S. SRM production capacity. The partnership is intended to strengthen the domestic defense supply chain and accelerate production of munitions for U.S. warfighters and allies.