California-based defense technology company General Atomics is expanding its footprint in northeast Mississippi with a $25 million investment.
The Mississippi Development Authority announced Tuesday that the company is building upon its operations in Shannon, where its Electromagnetic Systems Group has been housed for 21 years. To support the production of next-generation defense systems, including Bullseye, a long-range precision guided strike missile, General Atomics is updating its production line in Lee County with new, fully automated computer numerical control machines.
“Expanding our production capacity allows us to accelerate production of our advanced weapon systems,” General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems Group President Scott Forney said. “This investment strengthens our ability to deliver critical capabilities to rapidly support U.S. national defense priorities reliably and at scale.”
The project aims to increase the company’s production capacity and position it for future U.S. Department of Defense contracts. General Atomics is headquartered in San Diego and produces aerospace systems, submersibles, satellites, hypersonics, missile defense, and laser weapon systems for the defense industry.
“General Atomics’ repeated expansions in Mississippi speak for themselves. The company continues to choose our state because we outperform and keep projects on schedule,” Mississippi Development Authority Executive Director Bill Cork said. “This strategic investment not only modernizes the plant’s production, it strengthens a key operation in America’s national security supply chain. MDA is proud to support General Atomics as it continues serving our military and the interests of the U.S.”
The Mississippi Development Authority is assisting the project through the state’s flexible tax incentive program. Lee County is also assisting with the project.
