HUNTSVILLE, Alabama — Boeing helped build the foundation of Alabama’s aerospace industry and continues to advance its operations in the state.
In the past year, the company marked several milestones in its missile defense programs and also celebrated a university partnership that is shaping the next-generation workforce.
In November, Boeing broke ground on an expansion of its Huntsville factory that produces the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) seeker, a move that will increase annual production by more than 30%.
The 35,000-square-foot project, expected to be operational in 2027, will help meet worldwide demand for the seeker, which enables the identification, tracking and interception of air and missile threats.
Boeing employees in Huntsville recently delivered the 5,000th PAC-3 seeker.
Since 2010, the company has spent more than $100 million in Huntsville in support of the PAC-3 program.
“It’s hard to overstate Boeing’s influence on aerospace in Alabama and many other industries as well,” said Angela Till, Deputy Secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce. “For more than 60 years, Boeing innovation and excellence have become ingrained in the culture of the Huntsville region, home to a vast network of advanced manufacturing and cutting-edge technology.”
“As Boeing has helped chart the path of the global aerospace sector, the Huntsville workforce has been an essential component of that strategy,” said Till, who is leading a small working team from Commerce on a business recruitment mission at the 2024 Farnborough International Airshow .
Massive impact
Boeing employs more than 3,400 people in Huntsville, supporting missile defense and space exploration, as well as research, design and engineering for many products and services.
The company’s annual impact on the state is estimated at $2.7 billion.
Other recent highlights for Boeing Alabama include a $564 million U.S. Missile Defense Agency contract to lead engineering and integration efforts for the Missile Defense System for the next decade.
Boeing will support the ongoing refinement of the system, enhancing sensing and electronic protection, as well as integrating Next Generation Interceptor, strengthening defenses of the U.S. territory of Guam, and initial counter-hypersonic capabilities to protect service members and civilians against expanding and evolving threats.
In addition, the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense system intercepted Iranian ballistic missiles intended for Israeli targets earlier this year, and the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile completed the first two flight tests of 2024.
“The expertise, innovation and dedication of our people are what drive results at Boeing Huntsville, said Pierce Lehr, vice president of Space, Intelligence & Weapon Systems supply chain and Boeing Huntsville site leader.
“From our astronauts to American and allied servicemembers and civilians around the world, we’re focused on delivering for all of those that depend on us,” Lehr added.

Educational milestones
Over the years, Boeing has been a strong supporter of local education initiatives and worker training programs, including a partnership with the University of Alabama in Huntsville.
Since 2010, UAH and the Boeing Huntsville Design Center have teamed up to give students real-world experience working alongside the company’s engineers.
The students have participated in significant projects, including design work for a long-haul military transport aircraft as well as a tactical fighter, and have become familiar with Boeing’s tools, processes and programs.
UAH and Boeing held a “Milestone 500” celebration last spring, recognizing the 500-plus students who have graduated from the program, called uSource Product Definition Team.
Boeing officials say the program is an opportunity to develop and identify top engineering talent through years of on-the-job experience and evaluation, instead of relying on a resume and interview.
Over half of program graduates eventually work for Boeing.
UAH students experience significant growth in the program, said Jerry Hendrix, executive director of the Rotorcraft Systems Engineering & Simulation Center, a university hub for aerospace research.
“It makes them extremely marketable, helping them to get excellent jobs,” Hendrix said. “UAH could not be more thankful and appreciative for the opportunity in giving these students the potential to learn more about the applied side of their educational studies.
“It has given them an opportunity to find and pursue their unique abilities, helping to discover how to use their degree after graduation.”