The U.S. Department of Defense has awarded the contract for manufacture of the military’s new Joint Light Tactical Vehicle to Oshkosh Defense in Wisconsin.
Camden in Ouachita County was one of three locations being considered. Lockheed Martin committed to manufacturing the vehicle at its Camden facility if they won the project.
“While Lockheed Martin was not selected as a contractor by the Department of Defense, the state of Arkansas did the right thing by supporting Lockheed Martin to make sure they were competitive,” said Gov. Asa Hutchinson. “There is no doubt that we were competitive in terms of price, our workforce is second to none, and I remain very grateful for Lockheed Martin’s investment and confidence in our Camden facility. That investment will pay off in the long term.”
Hutchinson called a special legislative session in May to pass an $87 million incentives package for the Lockheed Martin’s manufacture of JLTVs in Camden if they secured the contract. If the contract had been awarded, it was estimated that 600 new jobs could have been added at the Highland Industrial Park in East Camden.
“While the JLTV will not be manufactured in Arkansas, our participation in this project will ultimately benefit southern Arkansas,” said Arkansas Economic Development Commission Executive Director Mike Preston. “Lockheed Martin has added some of the most advanced technology in manufacturing at their Camden facility, and I have no doubt this combined with the area’s workforce will bring growth opportunities to the company in the near future.”
On Aug. 4, Lockheed Martin announced that its JLTV team was testing production line efficiency at the Camden facility by producing company-funded Production Representative Vehicles.
“I am disappointed the Army did not select Lockheed Martin to build the JLTV,” said U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton. “Camden is a first-rate facility and the people who work there are some of the best in the world. I know they would have put their hearts and souls into this project. It is reassuring to know that JLTV will protect our service members — including the many who call Arkansas home — no matter where it is produced.”