Articles · Defense and manufacturing
Lockheed Martin and Hadrian's 24 machine cell for Grand Prairie, expected in early 2027
Lockheed Martin says Hadrian will bring a 24 machine cell to its Grand Prairie plant. Hadrian says its own factories combine AI and robotics. The release never says what AI would do in this cell.
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Lockheed Martin made the announcement in a release datelined Dallas on October 14th, 2026. It says Hadrian will bring a highly automated machining cell to the Grand Prairie facility, run by Lockheed's own production workforce. The cell has 24 machines and is expected to be operational early next year. The facility supports all of Lockheed's Missiles and Fire Control programs, among them PAC-3 MSE, THAAD, PrSM and JATM. A state accessibility filing puts the plant at 1701 West Marshall Drive in Dallas County.
The cell sits inside a $300 million investment that Lockheed says will grow the operation past 735,000 square feet. That includes 100,000 square feet of new space and 85,000 square feet of office space turned over to manufacturing.
What Lockheed says it has already done
In a few months the company says it turned former office space into manufacturing areas and installed more than 30 high precision machines. It expects to have added nearly 100 new advanced machines across the facility by the end of the year.
Nearly 800 production employees work at the plant. The company says it made 250,000 parts in 2025. The release does not say whether the 24 machines in Hadrian's cell count toward the nearly 100.
What Hadrian says about AI
Hadrian describes its own factories as highly automated and combining process engineering, AI and robotics. Its home page calls its software Opus a full stack, AI powered platform for factory autonomy. Hadrian says Opus interprets legacy designs and automates manufacturing and inspection.
Hadrian chief executive Chris Power says the company is bringing the automation, software and workforce training from its own factories inside Lockheed Martin. Hadrian's home page also offers dedicated manufacturing or inspection cells deployed at customer sites. The release does not name Opus. It does not say whether any of the cell's machines will use AI, or for what.
The deal behind it
The announcement follows a seven year agreement the two companies signed in 2025.
Lockheed says it plans to create 6,000 jobs across the United States, 2,000 of them in Texas. Those are the company's own figures. The release gives no count for the Grand Prairie plant alone.
Sources for this story
- Lockheed Martin Expands Advanced Munitions Manufacturing in Texas, Driving Thousands of New American Jobs
- The Future of American Production | Hadrian
- Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, Architectural Barriers Project Details, TABS2023008064
Claim-by-claim verification · 34 claims
Lockheed Martin says it is investing $300 million in its Grand Prairie operation and expanding the manufacturing footprint to more than 735,000 square feet.
At the center of that growth is Lockheed Martin's Grand Prairie operation, where the company is investing $300 million and expanding its manufacturing footprint to more than 735,000 square feet.
The expansion includes 100,000 square feet of new space and 85,000 square feet of office space being turned over to advanced manufacturing.
The expansion includes 100,000 square feet of new space and 85,000 square feet of office space being transformed for advanced manufacturing
Hadrian will bring a highly automated machining cell to the Grand Prairie facility, and Lockheed Martin's own production workforce will operate it.
Hadrian will bring an innovative, highly automated machining cell to the Grand Prairie facility, operated by the world-class Lockheed Martin production workforce.
The cell has 24 machines and is expected to be operational in early 2027.
Expected to be operational in early 2027, the 24-machine cell will bring commercial-style manufacturing technology directly into Lockheed Martin's production environment
Lockheed Martin says it plans to create 6,000 jobs across the United States, 2,000 of them in Texas. These are the company's own figures.
today announced plans to create 6,000 jobs across the United States including 2,000 in Texas
Lockheed Martin made the announcement in a news release datelined Dallas on October 14th, 2026.
DALLAS , Oct. 14, 2026 / PRNewswire / -- Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) today announced plans
The Grand Prairie facility supports all of Lockheed's Missiles and Fire Control programs, among them PAC-3 MSE, THAAD, PrSM and JATM.
Lockheed Martin's Grand Prairie facility supports all Missiles and Fire Control programs, including PAC-3 MSE, THAAD, PrSM and JATM.
Grand Prairie delivers components to final assembly sites that include Camden, Arkansas, and Troy, Alabama.
deliver components to final-assembly sites including Camden, Arkansas, and Troy, Alabama.
Lockheed Martin says the $300 million is part of a broader commitment to invest $8 to 9 billion through 2030. The company says that commitment also covers modernizing or expanding more than 20 facilities across the United States.
The $300 million investment in this expansion is part of the company's broader commitment to invest $8–9 billion through 2030 to scale munitions production and modernize or expand more than 20 facilities across the United States.
The company says it turned former office space into manufacturing areas in a few months and installed more than 30 additional high precision machines.
In just a few months, the company has transformed former office space into advanced manufacturing areas and installed more than 30 additional high-precision machines now producing thousands of critical components each week.
Lockheed Martin expects to have added nearly 100 new advanced machines across the facility by the end of 2026.
By the end of 2026, Lockheed Martin expects to have added nearly 100 new advanced machines across the facility.
Nearly 800 production employees work at the facility, which the company says made 250,000 parts in 2025.
Nearly 800 production employees currently work at the facility which manufactured 250,000 parts in 2025.
The announcement follows a seven year agreement the two companies signed in 2025.
Today's announcement with Hadrian follows the signing of a seven-year agreement signed by both companies in 2025.
The release says the Grand Prairie facility already holds hundreds of critical machining and advanced manufacturing assets.
The Grand Prairie facility is already home to hundreds of critical machining and advanced manufacturing assets
Hadrian describes its own factories as highly automated and combining process engineering, AI and robotics.
Hadrian is rebuilding America's industrial base with highly automated factories that combine process engineering, AI, and robotics.
Hadrian chief executive Chris Power says the company is bringing the automation, software and workforce training from its own factories inside Lockheed Martin.
Hadrian is bringing the automation, software and workforce training from our own factories directly inside Lockheed Martin, so we can produce more, faster.
The release says Hadrian operates four facilities covering just under 3 million square feet, two in Torrance, California, and newly launched sites in Arizona and Alabama.
The company operates four facilities covering just under 3 million square feet: two in Torrance, California, and newly launched sites in Arizona and Alabama
Lockheed Martin presents the Hadrian cell as following its recently announced collaboration with GM Defense on commercial automotive manufacturing methods.
It follows Lockheed Martin's recently announced collaboration with GM Defense to apply commercial automotive manufacturing expertise to defense production.
Lockheed Martin says it is applying commercially inspired contracting approaches through landmark agreements for PAC-3 MSE, THAAD, PrSM and JATM.
Lockheed Martin is applying commercially inspired contracting approaches through landmark agreements for PAC-3 MSE, THAAD, PrSM and JATM.
Hadrian says its software Opus reads legacy designs and automates manufacturing and inspection in its factories.
Opus interprets legacy designs and automates manufacturing and inspection
Hadrian's home page calls Opus a full stack, AI powered platform for factory autonomy.
Opus: the full stack, AI-powered platform for Factory Autonomy
Hadrian's home page describes a service that deploys dedicated manufacturing or inspection cells in Hadrian facilities or at customer sites.
Dedicated capacity for manufacturing or inspection cells, deployed in either Hadrian facilities or customer sites.
Hadrian says Opus helps it train factory technicians in 30 days or less.
quickly training up a New American Workforce of factory technicians in 30 days or less
On July 17th, 2025, Hadrian announced $260 million in new capital and described itself as building AI powered factories for America.
July 17, 2025 – Hadrian, the advanced manufacturing company building AI-powered factories for America, today announced $260 million in new capital
In its Series C post Hadrian described its factories as supporting American workers with process engineering, AI, machine learning and robotics.
highly automated factories that supercharge American workers with process engineering, AI, machine learning, and robotics
Hadrian's Series C post calls Opus its own proprietary software for production autonomy.
proprietary software stack for production autonomy
In July 2025 Hadrian said it would announce production initiatives focused on munitions, missile systems and uncrewed aerial systems.
In the coming months, Hadrian will announce additional production initiatives focused on Munitions, Missile systems, and Uncrewed Aerial Systems
In an earlier funding post Hadrian said its simplified systems let operators with zero machining experience produce spaceflight grade hardware with less than 60 days of training.
Proven that our simplified systems can enable operators with zero machining experience to produce spaceflight grade hardware with less than 60 days of training
Hadrian's press page lists an Aviation Week item dated December 8th, 2025, headlined Lockheed, Hadrian Sign MOU To Increase Missile Parts Production.
Lockheed, Hadrian Sign MOU To Increase Missile Parts Production Aviation Week December 8, 2025
Lockheed Martin's product page presents PAC-3 as advanced air defense missile technology.
PAC-3 Advanced Air Defense Missile Technology
The PAC-3 page says MSE stands for Missile Segment Enhancement, an interceptor missile.
the PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) interceptor missile
Lockheed Martin's PAC-3 page lists 2500+ PAC-3 MSEs produced.
2500+ PAC-3 MSEs produced
The PAC-3 page lists 17 partner nations and 100+ successful flight tests.
17 Partner Nations 100+ Successful flight tests
A state accessibility filing puts Lockheed Martin Missile and Fire Control at 1701 West Marshall Drive in Grand Prairie, in Dallas County.
Facility Name: Lockheed Martin Missile and Fire Control Location Address: 1701 West Marshall Drive Grand Prairie, TX 75051 Location County: Dallas