Defense Manufacturing Companies in Minnesota

Minnesota has approximately 6,800 manufacturing establishments and 320,000 manufacturing employees. Minnesota is the medical device capital of the world, home to Medtronic, Boston Scientific, and 3M, with additional strength in food processing and precision manufacturing.

Minnesota 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 Minnesota include Minneapolis, St. Paul, Rochester, Duluth, and Bloomington. These cities have concentrations of manufacturers across sectors including medical device manufacturing, food processing manufacturing, and metal fabrication.