ROCKET CENTER, W.Va. (WBOY) — West Virginia lawmakers were in Mineral County on Thursday to celebrate expansions at the Naval Industrial Reserve Ordnance Plant at the Allegany Ballistics Laboratory.

Officials from Northrop Grumman Corporation officially cut the ribbon on a new production and assembly center which will build on the company's existing operations in West Virginia to "rapidly manufacture critical capabilities for high-rate production programs," according to a press release.

This is Northrop Grumman's fourth defense manufacturing plant, and it spans 113,000 square feet, according to the release. The new plant will allow for expanded production to meet the surging demand for advanced weapons, including the U.S. Navy’s Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile Extended Range (AARG

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