Lockheed Martin opens massive ‘Costco-sized’ missile plant in north Alabama

Lockheed Martin reached a major milestone in North Alabama this week, officially opening its 88,000-square-foot Missile Assembly Building 5 (MAB-5) in Courtland. The massive new facility, which officials have compared in size to a Costco, will serve as a hub for producing the Next Generation Interceptor (NGI) for the Missile Defense Agency.

Building the Arsenal of Freedom

The MAB-5 facility is designed to bolster the nation's layered missile defense architecture. According to company officials, the plant integrates sophisticated digital manufacturing tools and smart processes to ensure high-efficiency, repeatable production. For Gen. Mike Guetlein, Director of Golden Dome for America, the site is a critical component of national security. "You are not just building infrastructure, you are building the Arsenal of Freedom," Guetlein said during the opening. "We are forging the shield to secure the homeland together."

Technology and Innovation

The NGI is an open-system interceptor built for seamless integration with radars, space-based sensors, and command-and-control systems. By utilizing a "digital twin" methodology—drawing on lessons from hypersonics and THAAD programs—Lockheed Martin aims to reduce risks from design through sustainment. Furthermore, the interceptor’s modular architecture allows for rapid technology upgrades while the missiles remain in their silos, significantly reducing maintenance costs compared to older systems.

Jonathan Caldwell, Lockheed Martin’s vice president and general manager of strategic and missile defense systems, noted that the facility marks a transition from design to the production phase. "This missile assembly building is the final stop for all components of the missile to come together and get put together before they are shipped out to the field," Caldwell said, adding that the site represents a quarter-billion-dollar investment in northern Alabama's missile defense capabilities.

Expanding Alabama's Defense Footprint

The Courtland site, which has supported defense programs since 1994, currently employs nearly 500 people, with about 100 dedicated specifically to the new MAB-5 building. The company’s presence in the region dates back to 1963. Beyond the new Courtland assembly building, Lockheed Martin also relies on its Troy facility for hardware integration and large-scale manufacturing to support NGI production. Additionally, 205focus.com readers may recall the company recently unveiled a $17 million hypersonic weapons facility on its Huntsville campus.

U.S. Rep. Dale Strong, R-Monrovia, praised the project for its economic and security impact. "The talent in north Alabama is the engine behind the next generation of our nation’s defense systems, and this project will create high-skill jobs and new career pathways while strengthening our local economy," Strong said.

To learn more about the project's development, see previous coverage regarding the plant nearing completion and earlier reports when the project was first announced.