Defense Manufacturing Companies in Arkansas

Arkansas has approximately 2,800 manufacturing establishments and 160,000 manufacturing employees. Arkansas has a diverse manufacturing base including food processing, steel production, and plastics, with Nucor and Dassault Falcon anchoring key sectors.

Arkansas contributes to the national defense manufacturing landscape. Defense manufacturing encompasses companies that produce military vehicles, weapons systems, ammunition, body armor, communications equipment, and other materiel for the US Department of Defense and allied nations. This sector includes prime contractors like Raytheon and General Dynamics as well as thousands of specialized small and mid-size suppliers.

Prime Contractors: Large defense companies like Raytheon, General Dynamics, and Northrop Grumman that lead major weapons programs.

Armored Vehicle Manufacturers: Companies producing tanks, armored personnel carriers, mine-resistant vehicles, and military trucks.

Munitions & Ordnance Producers: Manufacturers of ammunition, missiles, bombs, and explosive ordnance components.

Communications & Electronics: Companies building ruggedized radios, radar systems, electronic warfare equipment, and C4ISR systems.

Small Arms & Weapons Systems: Manufacturers of firearms, crew-served weapons, and weapon system components for military use.

Major industrial centers in Arkansas include Little Rock, Fort Smith, Springdale, and Jonesboro. These cities have concentrations of manufacturers across sectors including food processing manufacturing, steel manufacturing, and plastics manufacturing.