Lockheed Martin has announced that construction of its new Missile Assembly Building-5 (MAB-5) in Courtland, Alabama, is nearing completion. The 88,000-square-foot facility is expected to be finished by early 2026, with a formal grand opening planned afterward.
The new building will support the production of the Next Generation Interceptor (NGI), a system designed to strengthen homeland missile defense against evolving ballistic missile threats. According to Johnathon Caldwell, vice president and general manager of Strategic and Missile Defense Systems at Lockheed Martin, "We're building out nearly 100,000 square feet of manufacturing and production spaces in Courtland dedicated to the NGI program. The new Missile Assembly Building represents a major investment in our ability to produce the NGI at scale and meet the government's need for rapid delivery."
The MAB-5 facility incorporates lessons from other high-reliability programs such as the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system. The NGI program uses digital engineering methods like digital twins and model-based systems engineering to reduce risk throughout design, manufacturing, and sustainment phases. This approach allows for virtual testing and validation of systems before physical prototypes are built.
Caldwell stated, "This capability was designed for performance, but more importantly, it was also designed for manufacturability, reliability and speed. As the backbone to a multilayered integrated national defense system, producing NGI at speed is paramount to the mission."
Currently, Lockheed Martin's Courtland site supports several Army, Navy and Missile Defense Agency programs with about 500 employees. Once operational, MAB-5 will employ approximately 100 people. U.S. Rep. Dale Strong commented on the development: "The next generation of our nation's defense systems will include critical capabilities built in Courtland, Alabama, by hardworking men and women who will bring their skill, ingenuity and pride to protecting our country. This new state-of-the-art facility will speed up production, create good-paying jobs and help drive economic growth in the community. Projects like this show that Courtland's best days are still ahead."
Lockheed Martin’s nearby Troy facility will also contribute to NGI production through hardware integration and large-scale manufacturing efforts.
Lockheed Martin describes itself as a global defense technology company focused on innovation and scientific discovery.
