Aerospace

Boeing Reveals First of New Innovative Defense Factories

Created with the specific goal of producing advanced composite components for future combat aircraft.

Boeing Commits $2 Million USD to Support Humanitarian Efforts Following Terrorist Attacks in Israel

On September 12, the Defense, Space & Security (BDS) business segment of Boeing (NYSE: BA) presented its brand-new Sophisticated Composite Fabrication Center, which was created with the specific goal of producing advanced composite components for future combat aircraft.

Phantom Works, the exclusive research, development, and prototyping subsidiary of BDS will run the new facility in Mesa, Arizona, which will be a secure production facility. The 155,000-square-foot facility’s building phase is already finished, and this fall is when it will be completely operating.

The new Advanced Composite Fabrication Center and the factories that will follow it position Boeing to deliver the most digitally advanced, simply and efficiently produced, and intelligently supported aircraft to military customers.

US Army and Sikorsky agree on a $2.3 billion purchase of Black Hawk helicopters(Opens in a new browser tab)

Leveraging best practices from recent new-start programs like the MQ-28 Ghost Bat, MQ-25 Stingray, T-7A Red Hawk, and proprietary efforts, the ACFC will enable Boeing to scale a platform-agnostic, modular, and flexible digital production system across future BDS programs, providing unprecedented speed, agility, and cost efficiency. Additional new factories supporting subsequent phases of production are under construction in the St. Louis region and are slated to come online over the next few years.

According to Steve Nordlund, vice president, and general manager of Boeing Phantom Works, “The ACFC capitalizes on the latest in digital engineering – from initial concept and design to the production floor and sustainment – and its capabilities are directly aligned with our customers’ need to design, build, and field advanced combat aircraft on dramatically accelerated timelines.”

Related Topics:Aerospace Boeing Boeing aircraft

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.