Alabama’s aerospace and defense industry’s momentum continues to build with a raft of new investment projects, advancing operations across the state that develop leading products and innovative technologies for markets around the world.

Over the past five years, new aerospace investment in Alabama topped $1.5 billion with growth projects from companies including Airbus, United Launch Alliance, GE Aerospace, Raytheon and Lockheed Martin. 

Over 10 years, the figure exceeds $4 billion, with over 10,000 jobs created.

The timing is right to share Alabama’s aerospace growth story.

That’s because Secretary Ellen McNair is leading a small working team from Alabama Department of Commerce at the 2025 Paris Air Show, where they are being joined by economic development specialists, university representatives and community leaders on a mission targeting industry growth.

The Paris Air Show is the global aerospace industry’s equivalent of the FIFA World Cup, attracting all the heavyweight players into one location for non-stop action.

“We’re just going to let the industry know in Paris that Alabama is ready for whatever challenges are emerging,” she said. “We’ve got a great workforce, possess the know-how and have the infrastructure in place to support industry growth. 

“We have a rich history in aerospace — and a future that’s very bright.”

As the Paris Air Show commences today, it’s an ideal time to run the highlight reel that shows Alabama’s multi-dimensional aerospace industry really has it all. 

Consider the scope:

America’s Largest Rocket Factory: United Launch Alliance’s Alabama-built rockets have long provided dependable launch services for the U.S. Department of Defense and intelligence agencies, enabling the deployment of national security satellites that are essential for communication, surveillance, navigation and missile detection. 

ULA’s Atlas V and Delta rockets have deployed critical satellites into orbit on countless missions for the U.S. government. Its next-generation Vulcan Centaur rocket is poised to meet the challenge in coming years.

ULA’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Decatur, a 2.4 million-square-foot complex where its rockets are built, last year underwent a massive expansion to scale Vulcan production. 

Key NASA Installation: Marshall Space Flight Center, one of NASA largest installations, played a central role in the development of the Saturn V, the Apollo Moon rocket, and is a key player in the space agency’s future missions. Marshall is deeply involved in the development of the Space Launch System, or SLS, designed to be NASA’s most powerful rocket.

With 106 Alabama firms contributing to the ongoing Artemis missions, the program reaffirms Alabama’s status as a leader in space innovation.

Aircraft Manufacturing Hub: An expansion project that will double the production space at Airbus’ U.S. Manufacturing Facility in Mobile is moving toward completion. The centerpiece of the expansion project is the addition a new A320 Final Assembly Line (FAL) at the Brookley Aeroplex facility as the company ramps up production of the single-aisle passenger jet.

The project is also adding 1,000 workers at the Mobile facility and will further strengthen its presence as a major player in the global commercial aircraft manufacturing sector.

Missile Defense Nerve Center: A critical hub for missile defense, Redstone Arsenal houses the U.S. Army’s Space and Missile Defense Command (SMDC) and the Missile Defense Agency (MDA). These organizations focus on research, development and deployment of advanced missile defense systems.

Companies such as Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Raytheon have a strong presence in Alabama, contributing to the development of missile defense technologies like the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) and the production of missile systems such as THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense), assembled by Lockheed Martin at a factory in Troy.

Next-gen Manufacturing: GE Aerospace selected Alabama for cutting-edge manufacturing technologies. Its factory in Auburn became the first facility to mass produce a complex jet engine complex using additive manufacturing, or 3-D printing.

Another GE Aerospace operation, located in Huntsville, produces raw materials for ceramic matrix composites, or CMCs. The facility is only the second in the world to mass produce silicon carbide (SiC) ceramic fiber.

Flight Training Base: Fort Novosel (formerly Rucker), located in rural Southeast Alabama, has been the primary training center for all U.S. Army aviators for decades. At this site, pilots are trained on helicopters such as the UH-60 Black Hawk, AH-64 Apache and CH-47 Chinook.

Fort Novosel is also home to the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence, the aviation branch’s headquarters and its training and development center.

Not far away in Dothan, CAE’s Dothan Training Center providing live, virtual and constructive training to the U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy and other customers. The facility provides comprehensive initial and recurrent training for more than 800 pilots annually.

Hypersonics Hub: Lockheed Martin has established North Alabama as its flagship location for the development of hypersonic technologies urgent to national security. In rural Courtland, the company has established a futuristic “digital factory” dedicated to advancing ultra-fast weapons.

In November 2024, the Army inked a $670.5 million contract with Huntsville-based Dynetics Inc. to supply the service with a common hypersonic glide body and thermal protection system.

These innovations are poised to revolutionize the industry — making Alabama a key player in the next generation of defense technologies.

‘Pushing boundaries’

With so much activity across disciplines, it’s no wonder that the Alabama’s aviation and aerospace sector has been on a growth spurt.

The sector has grown at a 5% rate over the past five years, more than quadrupling the nation’s growth rate of 0.9%, according to data from the Aerospace Alliance, an organization that promotes the industry in the Southeast.

Looking forward, Alabama’s aviation and aerospace is forecast to grow at a 0.8% clip annually over the next five years, much higher than the nation’s expected 0.3% annual forecast, according to the Alliance.

Bob Smith, the Alabama Department of Commerce’s specialist on aerospace, said few locations can rival the state in terms of the wide variety of aerospace, aviation and defense activities taking place within its borders.

“Alabama’s aerospace, aviation and defense sector is firing on all cylinders — from building next-generation rockets and advanced military aircraft to pioneering innovations in space exploration, cybersecurity and missile defense,” said Smith, who is working alongside Secretary McNair at this week’s 2025 Paris Air Show.

“Across the state, we’re home to a diverse ecosystem of global leaders, skilled talent and cutting-edge research that’s pushing boundaries and shaping the future of flight, security and space,” he added.