Governor Tate Reeves tours GA’s Tupelo, MS site with Scott Forney, President of GA-EMS, and Pete Rinaldi, VP of Manufacturing Operations. The visit highlighted GA’s role in advancing directed energy and space-based Missile Warning & Tracking technologies (Photo from General Atomics)
General Atomics is expanding its operations in Shannon, where its Electromagnetic Systems Group is based, with a corporate investment exceeding $25 million.
“For more than two decades, General Atomics has been a valued part of Mississippi’s defense manufacturing landscape. The company has expanded more than a dozen times in Shannon over the past 20 years — a clear indication that Mississippi delivers for companies essential to our national defense. This latest investment augments a key defense manufacturing operation, generates new economic activity in Lee County, and positions Mississippi to compete for future defense opportunities,” said Governor Tate Reeves.
General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems provides advanced solutions for defense, government, and national security customers. To support production of next-generation systems, including Bullseye™, a long-range precision-guided strike missile, GA-EMS is upgrading and expanding its production line in Lee County with new, fully automated computer numerical control machines. The expansion increases production capacity and positions the company for upcoming competitive U.S. Department of Defense contracts.
“Expanding our production capacity allows us to accelerate production of our advanced weapon systems,” said Scott Forney, president of GA-EMS. “This investment strengthens our ability to deliver critical capabilities to rapidly support U.S. national defense priorities reliably and at scale.”
GA-EMS has also invested $200 million across its facilities to support development of its Long-Range Maneuvering Projectile, which can achieve controlled flight in a jamming environment at ranges of 120 kilometers or more, depending on the caliber of the 155 mm gun. The company invested an additional $35 million in a dedicated machining center that uses robotics to improve efficiency and delivery schedules. Part of the 2026 expansion includes larger assembly, integration, and testing facilities to support LRMP production as it ramps up.
“General Atomics’ repeated expansions in Mississippi speak for themselves. The company continues to choose our state because we outperform and keep projects on schedule. 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.,” said Mississippi Development Authority Executive Director Bill Cork.
The Mississippi Development Authority is supporting the project through the Mississippi Flexible Tax Incentive (MFLEX) program, with additional assistance from Lee County.
Headquartered in San Diego, General Atomics produces aerospace systems, submersibles, satellites, hypersonics, missile defense, and laser weapon systems for the defense industry. The company has operated its Electromagnetic Systems Group in Shannon since 2005.