MOBILE, Alabama — The Airbus manufacturing facility in Mobile is poised for potential growth thanks to plans announced today by the aerospace company and Lockheed Martin to collaborate on a refueling tanker aircraft if the partners win an Air Force competition.
Outlined today at a press conference at its Alabama facility, Airbus said it would begin building A330 aircraft in Mobile that would be converted into a tanker outfitted for military use at Lockheed Martin’s plant in Marietta, Georgia. Lockheed Martin — which also has a major presence in Alabama — provided details in an announcement released this morning.
The tanker aircraft, called the LMXT, would represent a significant new chapter for the Alabama Airbus facility, where the company builds A320 and A220 passenger jets. The $1 billion factory at the Mobile Aeroplex at Brookley employs around 1,000 people today.
“Establishing this production work in Alabama and Georgia confirms Lockheed Martin’s commitment that the LMXT will be built in America, by Americans, for Americans,” said Lockheed Martin Chairman, President, and CEO James Taiclet. “The LMXT will strengthen global security by enabling our U.S. service members to carry out their most critical missions at extended ranges.
“At home, the LMXT will strengthen job growth and manufacturing by drawing on the experience and talents of a high-tech American workforce in two states that are proven leaders in aviation,” he added.
Lockheed Martin and Airbus plan to compete for a new contract from the Air Force for aerial refueling tankers as part of a competition set to begin later this year.
If they win the Air Force KC-Y tanker competition, Mobile would see a third final assembly line for the A330, resulting in a $450 million investment and 400 direct jobs with an average salary of $60,000 per year, according to the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce.
“Today’s announcement further cements Alabama’s reputation for excellence in the aerospace industry,” Governor Kay Ivey said. “We have a world-class workforce making Mobile a top city for manufacturing and innovation, and we are excited to welcome the Lockheed Martin LMXT to Brookley.
“This state-of-the-art aircraft is the right plane for the war fighter, and we’re thrilled to have it built in Alabama.”
Governor Ivey joined Airbus officials and local leaders at the announcement ceremony this morning at the Brookley facility. Lockheed Martin scheduled a formal announcement at its Georgia facility for this afternoon.
“This partnership between Lockheed Martin and Airbus brings together two titans in the aerospace/aviation sector,” said Greg Canfield, Secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce. “It also heralds a new shared synergy in the military aviation space between the State of Alabama and the State of Georgia as Airbus will assemble the well-proven A330 jet aircraft in Mobile and Lockheed Martin will militarize the jet, transforming it into the LMXT.
“From the Alabama perspective, this signifies the potential of a significant expansion of Airbus’ activities in Mobile and could elevate Alabama’s critical role in our national defense,” Greg Secretary Canfield.
For France-based Airbus, today’s announcement represents its second attempt to provide the Air Force with an aerial refueling tanker, made in Mobile. In 2011, Airbus was part of a winning team for the first phase of the contract, but the decision was reversed and the contract awarded to Boeing.
Airbus later began producing passenger aircraft at the Brookley site. Its tanker aircraft, based on the A330-200, has been ordered by NATO, Australia, France, the United Kingdom, and several other nations.
“Over our 50-year history in the U.S., some of our proudest moments have come from supporting our American service members,” said C. Jeffrey Knittel, chairman and CEO of Airbus Americas. “Our U.S. workforce, which is more than 35% military veterans, is eager to see an Air Force tanker join the fleet of Airbus aircraft flying for the U.S. Army, National Guard, Navy and Coast Guard.”
Bethesda, Maryland-based Lockheed Martin’s presence in northern Alabama spans more than five decades, with a concentration in the rotorcraft and hypersonics sectors. More than 2,600 Lockheed Martin employees live and work in Alabama. In October 2021, Lockheed Martin opened an advanced production facility in Courtland focused on hypersonic strike production.
Our LMXT offering for the @usairforce will be built in Georgia and Alabama and extend our 60+ year history of delivering tankers to U.S. and global operators.
Watch for more on how our proven, ready solution will fuel future missions. pic.twitter.com/jdtgGPrlEV
— Lockheed Martin (@LockheedMartin) January 31, 2022
LOCAL IMPACT
Mobile officials applauded the plans to produce the tanker aircraft at the Brookley site.
“Today’s economic development announcement was special. Most Mobilians can recall the feeling in 2008 when our community lost the original tanker contract. Ultimately, Mobile turned that loss into two new final assembly lines that have created thousands of high-paying jobs,” said David Rodgers, vice president of economic development at the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce. “Today, we show the world that we are ready for the next chapter. We show that our workforce is ready to step up to the next challenge and ready to build tankers.”
Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson said Mobile has proven it has a skilled workforce ready to build the world’s very best American-made airplanes.
“We are grateful for the continued investment in our community from Airbus and welcome Lockheed Martin to what we believe will be a very successful partnership,” Stimpson said. “Our commitment is to continue the investment in our infrastructure and workforce that’s needed to support the future of Airbus and Lockheed Martin. The best is yet to come.”
Alabama Power Mobile Division Vice President Patrick Murphy said over the last 10 years, Alabama Power has partnered with the Alabama Department of Commerce and Team Mobile to strategically support the growth of Airbus and its supplier base.
“Alabama Power’s Mobile Division and our corporate Economic Development group have worked steadily to lay the framework for Airbus and Lockheed Martin to be successful in this project, and we will continue to lend our support as the project evolves,” Murphy added.
