Defense Manufacturing Companies in West Virginia

West Virginia has approximately 1,100 manufacturing establishments and 47,000 manufacturing employees. West Virginia's manufacturing sector centers on chemical production in the Kanawha Valley, specialty steel, and wood products throughout the state.

West Virginia 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 West Virginia include Charleston, Huntington, Morgantown, and Parkersburg. These cities have concentrations of manufacturers across sectors including chemical manufacturing, steel manufacturing, and wood products manufacturing.