Aerospace

Boeing Delivers 150th P-8 Maritime Patrol Aircraft.

The 150th P-8 aircraft to be delivered, a Boeing P-8 maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft, took to the skies above Puget Sound. Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) One, headquartered at Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Maryland, will fly the 150th multi-mission P-8.

According to Stu Voboril, vice president and programme manager of P-8 Programs, “there are currently 150 P-8s around the world offering assurance and an unrivalled capability to our global customers.” Delivering the best maritime patrol aircraft in the world has been and will continue to be our main priority.

The global P-8 fleet consists of 112 aircraft given to the US Navy, 12 to Australia, 12 to India, nine to the UK, and five to Norway, and has logged more than 450,000 hours of accident-free flight time. The planes are made for anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, as well as search and rescue missions.

Six test aircraft that were sent to the U.S. Navy in the early stages of the programme are not counted among the 150 P-8s currently in service. For the purpose of evaluating their capabilities and performance, Boeing tested those aircraft during development. The test aircraft play a vital part in ensuring that Boeing continues to offer cutting-edge capabilities to international P-8 clients as system improvements and new technology are developed.

Boeing, a global aerospace leader, develops, manufactures, and services commercial aeroplanes, defence products, and space systems for customers in over 150 countries. As a top US exporter, the company leverages the talents of a global supplier base to advance economic opportunity, sustainability, and community impact. Boeing’s diverse team is dedicated to innovating for the future, leading with sustainability, and cultivating a culture based on the company’s core values of safety, quality, and integrity.

Aerospace

Boeing’s Aurora Flight Sciences Expands Columbus Plant by 50,000 Sqft

Credit:Aurora Flight Sciences

Aurora Flight Sciences, a subsidiary of Boeing, has launched a significant expansion of its manufacturing facility near the Golden Triangle Regional Airport in Columbus, Mississippi.

This ambitious project will add 50,000 square feet of new space, renovate 40,000 square feet of the existing facility, and introduce advanced automation equipment, robotics, and non-destructive inspection technologies. mcas boeing enhancements will support the growing demand for Aurora’s aerospace systems business.

Since its establishment, Aurora Mississippi has specialized in the production of advanced composite components and assemblies for both military and commercial aircraft. The company first opened in 2005 at Mississippi State University’s Raspet Flight Research Laboratory in Starkville before relocating to its current site in Columbus two years later.

Initially occupying 21,000 square feet, the facility has since grown to encompass over 120,000 square feet, featuring cutting-edge manufacturing technologies such as automated fiber placement. Aurora’s latest expansion is a strategic investment aimed at increasing production capacity for composite components like boeing titanium used in executive jets and the MQ-25TM Stingray composite skins, a key project for its parent company, Boeing.

Additionally, the facility will produce components for NASA’s X-66 sustainable flight demonstrator aircraft, further diversifying its portfolio. Currently employing around 100 full-time staff in Mississippi, Aurora plans to hire more than 60 additional team members by the end of 2025.

Aurora’s expansion project underscores its commitment to Mississippi’s growing aerospace and advanced manufacturing sector. The company maintains strong partnerships with Mississippi State University (MSU) and East Mississippi Community College (EMCC), contributing to research, higher education, and workforce development in advanced manufacturing.

Additionally, Aurora actively supports local K-12 STEM education through summer camps and collaborates with high school vocational education programs. The expansion and renovation project will be carried out in phases over the next two years, with completion expected by 2026. This development marks a significant milestone in Aurora’s ongoing growth and its role in advancing aerospace manufacturing in Mississippi.