Defense Manufacturing Companies in Iowa

Iowa has approximately 3,500 manufacturing establishments and 220,000 manufacturing employees. Iowa is a leading food processing and agricultural equipment manufacturing state, home to major meatpacking operations and John Deere's key production facilities.

Iowa 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 Iowa include Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Sioux City, and Waterloo. These cities have concentrations of manufacturers across sectors including food processing manufacturing, agricultural equipment manufacturing, and metal fabrication.