Lockheed Martin, Airbus to locate new aerospace facility in Arkansas

Little Rock, Arkansas – Lockheed Martin and Airbus plan to locate the manufacturing facility for the project in western Arkansas if they win a U.S. Air Force award for an aerial refueling system, the companies announced Wednesday.

The total cost of the contract award has yet to be revealed, and the location of the potential facility was not revealed.

According to Lockheed Martin and Airbus officials, their aerial refueling boom system for the LMXT strategic tanker aircraft would be built in western Arkansas, although a timeframe for the decision was pending. An expected 60-100 “highly skilled aerospace manufacturing jobs” would be created, a spokesperson for Lockheed Martin said.

The work is contingent on the awarding of a contract by the U.S. Air Force to Lockheed Martin for the LMXT strategic tanker.

According to Air Force officials, they are reviewing the tanker fleet to determine how to best support future mission requirements, including a possible KC-Y tanker.

The Air Force would need to issue a Request For Proposal (RFP) and Lockheed Martin would put forth the LMXT strategic tanker for that request, according to Lockheed Martin.

Yesterday’s announcement is a commitment by Lockheed Martin and Airbus to build the LMXT’s boom in western Arkansas should that contract award be secured.