L3Harris Technologies (NYSE: LHX), a leading defense contractor, announced on July 17, 2025, plans to construct over 20 new manufacturing facilities in Calhoun County, Arkansas, adjacent to its Camden site, to produce large solid rocket motors (LSRMs) for missile defense targets, interceptors, and hypersonic vehicles. The $193 million expansion, part of a $500 million company-wide investment, will add 130,000 square feet of manufacturing and office space, increasing LSRM production capacity six-fold by 2027. Following a meeting with Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders at the 2025 Paris Air Show, the project will create 50 new jobs over two years, adding to L3Harris’s 1,300-person Camden workforce, which produces over 100,000 rocket motors annually. Supported by the Defense Department’s Defense Production Act Title III program, the campus strengthens the domestic rocket motor industrial base, aligning with President Trump’s 10% global tariffs and targeting a $5 billion aerospace defense market. CEO Christopher E. Kubasik stated, “This investment fortifies our nation’s missile defense, scaling production for the Golden Dome shield.”

For the precision machining industry, L3Harris’s expansion underscores the critical role of depth of cut in manufacturing LSRM components. Parts like motor casings require CNC milling with precise depth of cut, typically 0.01–0.05 inches per pass, to achieve tolerances within ±0.001 inches and surface roughness as low as Ra 8 µin for composite and metal alloys. 5-axis milling machines, optimized for depth of cut to balance material removal and tool stability, support automated production with real-time quality control. The project drives demand for local machine shops to supply precision tooling, adopting Industry 4.0 technologies like AI-driven milling and additive manufacturing. As part of a $50 billion precision manufacturing market, this initiative creates opportunities for suppliers in Arkansas, where manufacturing jobs grew 2% since 2022, strengthening defense supply chains.

Source:

Arkhadelphian

Social Media Buzz (powered by X):

X is ignited with L3Harris’s Calhoun County expansion, with posts from July 17–25, 2025, calling it a “rocket boost for Arkansas.” Users hailed the 50 jobs, with one declaring, “Camden’s defense hub is soaring!” while another linked it to “securing U.S. skies.” Some questioned the modest job count versus the $193 million price tag. The X spark glows with pride for aerospace growth but seeks clarity on economic impact.

What is the Depth of Cut?

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