Where Army contractors located

America has the world’s largest defense industry, spending more than $1.7T in FY 2023. 

The manufacture and sale of everything from service revolvers to the maintenance and operation of 420 military installations scattered across the nation, making up significant shares of local economies. 

Defense spending as a share of GDP is as high as 12% and 10% in Virginia and Hawaii, respectively. 

(See states with the largest U.S. Army presence.)

417 military contractors in 40 states support only the material needs of the Army. 

(States with the most Army contractors: Army Weapon Systems Handbook for 2020-2021.)

States are ranked by the number of contractors operating in the state. Ten states have no contractors operating in them, including Louisiana. 

Virginia and Maryland are home to 92 Army contractors, including the world’s largest aerospace and defense companies General Dynamics, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon and Lockheed Martin.

Texas and California are home to 24 and 44, respectively.

Companies in eight states make artillery shells. Contractors that build the Apache helicopters and mortar systems are spread out across five states.

Army contracts also go to small companies like Stark Aerospace in Mississippi that produces tactical unmanned aerial vehicles. Stark is the only Army contract in Mississippi.

Tennessee-based Accurate Energetic Systems makes various explosives. There are 27 Army contractors in Alabama. (24/7 Wall Street 08/31/23) These States Make the Most Weapons for the US Army – 24/7 Wall St. (247wallst.com)