NAICS 336414 Quarterly Industry Report
Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing
Comprehensive industry research for valuation professionals, business owners, buyers, and lenders
NAICS Code: 336414Sector: 33Updated: Q1 2026
About This Report
This Fair Market Value industry report for NAICS 336414 draws on verified data from the U.S. Census Bureau[4], Bureau of Labor Statistics[5], and the Small Business Administration[6]. Our research team compiles establishment counts, employment data, and SBA eligibility criteria specific to guided missile and space vehicle manufacturing. Reports are updated quarterly to reflect new Census releases and regulatory changes.
Industry Definition & Overview
Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing (NAICS 336414) encompasses establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing complete guided missiles, space vehicles, and satellites. Products include intercontinental ballistic missiles, tactical guided missiles, satellite launch vehicles, crewed and uncrewed spacecraft, and satellite buses and payloads. The U.S. Census Bureau[4] classifies this industry under aerospace product and parts manufacturing.
Roughly 85 active businesses employ an estimated 53,200 workers in this industry. Production is dominated by a small number of prime defense and aerospace contractors including Lockheed Martin, Raytheon (RTX), Northrop Grumman, Boeing Defense, and SpaceX. Government contracts from the Department of Defense and NASA fund the majority of production, with classified missile programs and national security space systems representing a substantial portion of industry revenue that does not appear in public financial reporting.
Manufacturing combines advanced composite fabrication for airframe structures, precision machining of guidance and control housings, integration of propulsion systems with airframe sections, and final assembly in clean-room environments for satellite bus construction. Missile production involves solid rocket motor integration, warhead section assembly, guidance electronics installation, and complete system functional testing. Space vehicle assembly requires contamination-controlled environments for optical payload integration, solar array deployment testing, and thermal vacuum chamber qualification testing that simulates the orbital environment. All work proceeds under rigorous Department of Defense and NASA quality assurance oversight, with AS9100 quality systems and government source inspection at critical manufacturing milestones. ITAR export controls restrict international transfer of technical data and finished products throughout the supply chain.
What's Included in This Industry
- Intercontinental ballistic missile manufacturing
- Tactical guided missile production
- Satellite launch vehicle manufacturing
- Communication and observation satellite production
- Crewed spacecraft manufacturing
- Satellite bus and payload integration
- Missile guidance section assembly
- Space vehicle structural fabrication
- Missile final assembly and system testing
- Uncrewed space probe manufacturing
NAICS Classification Hierarchy
| Level | Description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Subsector | Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 336 |
| Industry Group | Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | 3364 |
| NAICS Industry | Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | 33641 |
| National Industry | Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing | 336414 |
Related NAICS Codes
| Code | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 336415 | Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Propulsion Unit and Propulsion Unit Parts Manufacturing | Manufactures guided missile and space vehicle propulsion units including rocket motors rather than the complete missile and spacecraft systems assembled in this classification |
| 336419 | Other Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing | Produces other guided missile and space vehicle parts including structural components and subsystems rather than the complete integrated systems manufactured here |
| 336411 | Aircraft Manufacturing | Manufactures aircraft and airframes for atmospheric flight rather than the guided missiles and space vehicles designed for ballistic trajectories and orbital operations produced here |
| 336412 | Aircraft Engine and Engine Parts Manufacturing | Produces aircraft engines for air-breathing propulsion rather than the rocket-powered guided missiles and space launch vehicles manufactured in this classification |
| 334511 | Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing | Manufactures search and navigation instruments including missile guidance electronics as components rather than the complete guided missile systems assembled in this industry |
| 927110 | Space Research and Technology | National defense and international affairs agencies fund and oversee the guided missile and space vehicle programs produced under government contract in this classification |
Geographic Concentration
Top states by share of national establishments.
| # | State | % Est. | Total Est. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 48.5% | 16 |
| 2 | Texas | 24.2% | 8 |
| 3 | Florida | 18.2% | 6 |
| 4 | Colorado | 9.1% | 3 |
% Of Establishments
0%
48%
Source: County Business Patterns, U.S. Census Bureau[3]
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this industry.
What types of businesses are classified under NAICS 336414?
Manufacturers of complete guided missiles, space vehicles, and satellites classify here. Products include ballistic missiles, tactical missiles, launch vehicles, communication satellites, observation satellites, crewed spacecraft, and uncrewed space probes per the Census Bureau[4] classification.
How is the guided missile and space vehicle industry structured?
Roughly 85 businesses employ an estimated 53,200 workers per Census data[10]. A handful of prime contractors (Lockheed Martin, RTX, Northrop Grumman, Boeing, SpaceX) dominate production while smaller firms serve as subcontractors manufacturing structural sections, subsystem assemblies, and ground support equipment.
What is the SBA size standard for NAICS 336414?
The SBA[6] sets the threshold at 1,250 employees. Businesses with fewer than 1,250 average employees qualify as small for federal contracting preferences and SBA-backed financing programs including 7(a) and 504 loans.
What NAICS codes are related to guided missile and space vehicle manufacturing?
Related codes include 336415 (Rocket Propulsion), 336419 (Space Vehicle Parts), 336411 (Aircraft), 336412 (Aircraft Engines), 334511 (Navigation Instruments), and 927110 (National Defense). Each covers either propulsion units, component manufacturing, or government oversight functions distinct from complete missile and spacecraft assembly.
What industries interact with missile and space vehicle manufacturers?
Rocket propulsion suppliers, space vehicle parts producers, guidance electronics manufacturers, satellite telecommunications carriers, and R&D firms interact most directly. Government contracts from DoD and NASA fund the majority of production while commercial satellite operators and launch service customers provide growing private-sector revenue.
What activities are included in NAICS 336414?
Activities include fabricating missile and spacecraft structural sections from composites and metals, integrating rocket motors into missile airframes, assembling satellite buses with power, thermal, and communications systems, installing guidance electronics and warhead sections, performing environmental qualification testing in thermal vacuum and vibration facilities, and conducting final system checkout before delivery.
Can guided missile manufacturers qualify for SBA loans?
Yes, firms below 1,250 employees qualify for SBA lending programs[7] including 7(a) and 504 loans. Clean room facilities, composite autoclaves, thermal vacuum chambers, and vibration test systems represent capital investments suited to SBA 504 equipment financing.
Where are guided missile and space vehicle manufacturers concentrated?
Production concentrates near major defense and space facilities including Huntsville, Alabama; Denver, Colorado; Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area in California; Cape Canaveral, Florida; and the greater Washington, D.C. metro area. Proximity to military customers, NASA centers, and launch ranges drives facility location. ITAR restrictions and classified program requirements concentrate work at facilities with established security infrastructure and cleared workforce populations.
Sources & References
Government datasets and editorial sources used in this report.
- [1]U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages bls.gov
- [2]U.S. Census Bureau, Economic Census census.gov
- [3]U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns census.gov
- [4]U.S. Census Bureau census.gov
- [5]Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
- [6]Small Business Administration sba.gov
- [7]SBA's contracting programs sba.gov
- [8]SBA 7(a) loans sba.gov
- [9]504 loans sba.gov
- [10]Census data naicslist.com
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