Lockheed Martin missiles unit to trim 250 jobs

Lockheed Martin’s Grand Prairie-based Missiles and Fire Control unit confirmed Thursday that it plans to cut 250 jobs by late November as part of “an overall belt-tightening.”

The cutbacks, first reported by Reuters, were disclosed to workers this week. Missiles and Fire Control has about 15,000 workers at sites across the U.S., including about 2,700 in Grand Prairie.

“The reductions will be achieved through a variety of means including some involuntary layoffs. This action is a normal response to changes in our overall business base,” the company said in a statement. “The reductions are being identified now and will occur at most of our U.S. operations.”

Spokesman John Kent said most of the unit’s sites are likely to be affected with the exception of its Technical Services and Special Operations Forces Contractor Logistics Support Services businesses.

In August, the Lockheed unit lost a competition to Oshkosh Corp. for a contract to produce a new joint light tactical vehicle to replace the Humvee for the Army. The Lockheed vehicle was developed in Grand Prairie and would have been built at a plant in Arkansas.

The Missiles and Fire Control unit specializes in armored cars, hit-to-kill missiles such as the Patriot, and other targeting and weapons systems. Lockheed Martin’s Aeronautics unit is based in Fort Worth, where it builds the F-35 and F-16 fighter jets.

This story was originally published October 15, 2015 at 4:57 PM with the headline "Lockheed Martin missiles unit to trim 250 jobs."