Advanced manufacturing campus at Pine Bluff Arsenal is expected to create nearly 400 jobs over seven years and expand U.S. munitions production capacity.
PINE BLUFF, Ark. — October 19, 2026 — Hanwha Defense USA plans to invest $2.2 billion in a new munitions manufacturing campus at the U.S. Army’s Pine Bluff Arsenal in Arkansas. The proposed Hanwha Advanced Manufacturing Campus is expected to create nearly 400 jobs over seven years, strengthening the region’s defense manufacturing sector and expanding domestic production of critical munitions components.
Company executives joined state officials and local leaders to mark the opening of Hanwha’s administration headquarters at Pine Bluff Arsenal. The office will oversee local operations and represents the first step toward developing the larger manufacturing campus.
Hanwha Defense USA was awarded a lease solicitation for a munitions campus at the arsenal in January 2026.
Expanding Domestic Munitions Manufacturing
The planned facility will focus on producing 155mm propellant charges and base bleed units. The campus will establish advanced manufacturing capabilities across key stages of munitions production, supporting increased U.S. capacity and modernization of the nation’s defense industrial base.
Hanwha Defense USA CEO Michael Coulter said the investment reflects the company’s commitment to bringing its manufacturing capabilities to the United States, developing a local workforce and strengthening domestic defense production.
The administration headquarters provides an initial operating presence as the company advances its plans for the Arkansas campus.
Supporting Pine Bluff Arsenal and the Regional Economy
The project would bring new manufacturing jobs and substantial private investment to Pine Bluff and surrounding Arkansas Delta communities.
Jordan Gillis, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment, said an eventual lease would generate revenue for the Army while supporting local employment and strengthening its industrial base. Leasing underutilized land would also allow the Army to reinvest proceeds in critical infrastructure benefiting soldiers, civilian employees and their families.
Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders highlighted the project’s potential to bolster communities throughout the Delta and reinforce the state’s aerospace and defense industry, which she identified as Arkansas’ leading export industry.
U.S. Senator Tom Cotton said the investment would build on Pine Bluff Arsenal’s role as a national security asset while expanding critical munitions production and creating jobs for Arkansans.
Collaboration Brings Defense Investment to Arkansas
The announcement follows an extensive recruitment effort involving Hanwha, state economic development officials, the Arkansas congressional delegation, the U.S. Army, Pine Bluff Arsenal and local partners.
Clint O’Neal, executive director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, said the Arkansas team worked with Hanwha over 18 months. Those efforts included site visits across the state, meetings with company executives in South Korea and discussions at the Paris and Farnborough airshows.
O’Neal credited collaboration among state, federal, military and community stakeholders with helping secure the proposed campus.
The investment would expand Hanwha Defense USA’s U.S. manufacturing presence while adding significant production capacity to Arkansas’ defense sector.
About Hanwha Defense USA
Hanwha Defense USA, a subsidiary of Hanwha Aerospace, provides defense platforms and manufacturing capabilities to support military customers and industrial partners. The company continues to expand its U.S. operations through organic growth, strategic industrial partnerships and selective acquisitions, with an emphasis on developing local workforces and supply chains.
For more information, visit HanwhaDefenseUSA.com.
About the Arkansas Economic Development Commission
The Arkansas Economic Development Commission works with businesses and communities to attract investment, create jobs and expand economic opportunities throughout the state. AEDC is a division of the Arkansas Department of Commerce.
Learn more at ArkansasEDC.com.
