General Atomics Announces $25 Million Expansion in Lee County

Key Points

• General Atomics is expanding its Shannon, Mississippi, operations with a new $25 million corporate investment.
• The project modernizes the Lee County facility with fully automated CNC machines and robotics to produce next-generation defense systems.
• The expansion supports the production of the Bullseye™ long-range missile and the Long-Range Maneuvering Projectile (LRMP).

SHANNON, Miss. – Defense technology leader General Atomics is expanding its Electromagnetic Systems Group (GA-EMS) operations in Shannon, representing a corporate investment of more than $25 million.

The project aims to modernize production lines with fully automated computer numerical control machines and robotics. This upgrade increases capacity for next-generation defense systems, specifically the Bullseye™ long-range precision-guided strike missile. The expansion also provides the assembly and testing facilities necessary to scale production of the Long-Range Maneuvering Projectile, a system capable of controlled flight at ranges exceeding 120 kilometers.

“This latest investment augments a key defense manufacturing operation and further positions Mississippi to compete for the defense opportunities of tomorrow,” said Gov. Tate Reeves.

The San Diego-based company has operated in Shannon since 2005, expanding more than a dozen times over the last two decades. The Mississippi Development Authority is supporting the current project through the Mississippi Flexible Tax Incentive (MFLEX) program, alongside assistance from Lee County.

GA-EMS President Scott Forney noted that the expansion allows the company to accelerate the delivery of critical capabilities to the U.S. military. The investment is part of a broader $200 million companywide commitment to advanced munitions development.