Lockheed Martin to add up 300 jobs in Titusville after winning Navy missile contract

Posted by author February 1, 2025 Jobs

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Lockheed Martin Corp. plans to add up to 300 jobs in Titusville after winning a major Navy contract to produce components for next-generation, submarine-launched ballistic missiles. The average annual wage for the new jobs will be $89,000.

The defense technology company also will be building a $140 million, 225,000-square-foot advanced manufacturing facility in Titusville for the project, continuing its expansion in the area.

The facility is anticipated to be ready for operations in 2027 to meet the Navy’s production needs and support the service for the next 60 years, Lockheed Martin said Friday, in announcing the contract and its plans for expanding in Titusvillle.

Lockheed Martin said the Navy awarded the company a $383 million addition to its contract for development of the next generation of the Trident II Strategic Weapons System D5 missile. The company said the missile system will allow the Navy “to continue the nation’s sea-based strategic deterrence.”

Continued expansion of military facilities

The Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast said Lockheed’s collaboration with the Navy also is expected to mean that the Navy will add up to 100 naval personnel locally.

Lynda Weatherman, the EDC’s president and CEO, called Lockheed Martin’s expansion in Titusville “yet another important win.”

District 1 Brevard County Commissioner Katie Delaney — whose commission district includes Titusville — said it will assure “a promising future for the residents of District 1 and Florida’s Space Coast.”

Importance of missile program

The D5 missile, built and upgraded by Lockheed Martin for the Navy, is the most advanced ballistic missile in the world. It currently is aboard U.S. Ohio-class and United Kingdom Vanguard-class submarines, the company said.

Under this contract modification, Lockheed Martin will design the upgraded missile, called the Trident II D5 Life Extension 2. The company said the missile will be carried aboard Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines “to ensure the strategic weapon system remains credible through 2084.”

Jerry Mamrol, vice president of fleet ballistic missiles at Lockheed Martin, said the contract extension “will enable the United States and United Kingdom … to maintain credibility deterring evolving threats.”

Lockheed Martin said it has a total of 16,766 employees at 74 facilities in Florida, with a total payroll in the state of about $2 billion.

Lockheed Martin this year will mark 70 years of support to the Navy developing and sustaining the missiles that the company said are the backbone for the nation’s sea-based deterrence, through the company’s fleet ballistic missile program.

Dave Berman is business editor at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Berman at dberman@floridatoday.com, on X at @bydaveberman and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/dave.berman.54