Lockheed Martin has officially opened a facility in Courtland, Alabama, focused on the production of the Next Generation Interceptor for US layered missile defense.
Lockheed Martin has officially opened a facility in Courtland, Alabama, focused on the production of the Next Generation Interceptor (NGI) for US layered missile defense.
The 88,000-square-foot (8,175-square-meter) Missile Assembly Building 5 (MAB-5) will draw the best practices from Lockheed’s programs, like the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), and adopt techniques like automation, data-driven workflows, and the digital twin methodology for high production efficiency.
MAB-5 in Courtland will be supported by the company’s Troy facility, also located in Alabama, which conducts hardware integration and large-scale manufacturing for the NGI program.
The facility inauguration comes after the US Missile Defense Agency contracted Lockheed in April 2024 to serve as the NGI program’s lead, where it will work alongside other defense contractors like Aerojet Rocketdyne for the NGI’s propulsion, Voyager Space for the upper-stage solid-propulsion subsystem, and Northrop Grumman for the target vehicle.
Rendering of the Missile Assembly Building-5 (MAB-5). Photo: Lockheed MartinFor ICBM Defense
The NGI is being developed to intercept advanced intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) threats during their midcourse phase.
Built with a modular architecture, the interceptor was designed to receive in-silo upgrades and integrate within a layered missile defense system that includes ground-based radars, space-based missile trackers, and regional missile defense assets, such as the Aegis and THAAD.
"NGI was designed from the start to adapt," said Christopher Jewell, NGI VP and program manager at Lockheed Martin. "Its digital foundation allows new technologies to be integrated more quickly, ensuring the system can stay ahead of emerging threats."
