RICHMOND, Va. (CBS19 NEWS) -- Dozens of new jobs will be coming to Orange County.

On Thursday, Governor Glenn Youngkin announced that L3Harris Technologies will be upgrading its manufacturing capacity at an Orange County location, including new facilities, equipment and tools.

According to a release, this will be a key expansion to increase domestic production of solid rocket motors, which are critical for national security.

Most of the $41.2 million investigation will be coming from a cooperative agreement that L3Harris company Aerojet Rocketdyne signed with the U.S. Department of Defense last year.

The money will be used at the rocket propulsion manufacturers facilities to increase solid rocket motor production and create 80 new jobs over the next three years.

“Our country’s security depends on defense manufacturers like L3Harris, and we are proud that this long-term corporate partner continues to reinvest in Virginia,” said Youngkin. “The Commonwealth’s vibrant industrial and technological ecosystem provides an ideal home for the booming aerospace industry, underpinned by a top-notch workforce pipeline that draws from thousands of service members who exit the armed services in Virginia every year and our excellent schools that ensure a steady flow of new talent.” 

L3Harris has about 50,000 employees across its network that works on technology solutions connecting space, air, land, sea and cyber domains in the interest of national security.

“This is an exciting announcement. On behalf of the Orange County Board of Supervisors and our Economic Development team, I am pleased to support L3Harris’ efforts to add 80 new jobs and expand their operations in Orange County over the next 36 months,” said R. Mark Johnson, Chairman of the Orange County Board of Supervisors. “L3Harris has been an important member of our business community for many years, making their $41.2 million investment particularly gratifying. Receiving the Commonwealth’s Opportunity Fund grant from Governor Youngkin and VEDP is a recognition of Orange County’s pro-business climate, its economic vitality, and our region’s qualified workforce.”

L3Harris’ Aerojet Rocketdyne segment is a developer and manufacturer of advanced propulsion and energetic systems for rockets, spacecraft and other space vehicles, strategic missiles, missile defense, and tactical systems and armaments.

The release says the Virginia Economic Development Partnership works with Orange County and the Central Virginia Partnership for Economic Development to secure this project.

Youngkin has also approved a $540,000 grant from the Commonwealth’s Opportunity Fund to help Orange County with it.