LUFKIN, TX—Lockheed Martin’s electronics assembly plant here has adopted the IPC-CFX standard for its surface-mount production lines, enabling the defense contractor to turn the facility into a smart factory.

WICHITA, KS — Aerospace structures manufacturer Spirit Aerosystems announced the allocation of $80 million in federal funding to bolster its production for the defense sector.

DAYTON, OH—Engineers at the Air Force Research Laboratory here recently developed a robot for aerospace manufacturing applications.

WASHINGTON—The Pentagon has awarded Oshkosh Defense a $30 billion contract to build nearly 55,000 joint light tactical vehicles for the U.S. Army and Marine Corps over the next 25 years.

NORTH KINGSTOWN, RI—Submarine maker Electric Boat plans to double its workforce in Rhode Island to build a new class of submarines under a $95 billion Navy program.

Lightweight exoskeletons currently under development will give soldiers superhuman strength. The devices will allow soldiers to easily carry loads of up to 200 pounds.

Within the next decade, a large portion of the U.S. Army’s huge fleet of vehicles could run on battery power. In fact, the Pentagon plans to acquire more than 92,000 electric vehicles by 2020.

Weight issues are not something that’s common with U.S. Army soldiers. The military organization prides itself on running a lean, mean fighting machine. But, even so, the Army is on a weight-loss program when it comes to vehicles, artillery, ordnance, helmets, electronic gear and other devices.