Aerospace & Defense

Aerospace

North Alabama played a central role for the 20th Century’s greatest accomplishment – putting man on the moon.

Aerospace and Defense

The Saturn V rocket that launched astronauts from zero to outer space in less than three minutes was designed, built, managed and tested in North Alabama. It was the most critical component to the success of the awe-inspiring mission and it operated without failure. Today, this Saturn V rocket, restored to its Apollo-era readiness, resides in the Davidson Center at the U.S. Space and Rocket Museum in Huntsville as a reminder of the heritage that launched North Alabama into its present economic success. Rockets are still produced here at a state-of-the-art 1.5-million SF United Launch Alliance facility in Decatur. ULA produces the Atlas V, Delta III and IV and the upcoming Vulcan rockets.

Redstone Arsenal – a secure, 38,000-acre U.S. federal campus – remains an important part of the economy in North Alabama. More than 35,000 people are employed managing more than $50 billion in annual federal budget. Redstone is home to more than 60 agencies, including:

  • HQs U.S. Army Materiel Command
  • U.S. Army Aviation & Missile Command
  • U.S. Army Security Assistance Command
  • U.S. Army Contracting Command
  • U.S. Army Expeditionary Contracting Command
  • U.S. Army Aviation & Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center
  • Logistics Support Activity
  • U.S. Army Space & Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command
  • Program Executive Office – Aviation
  • Program Executive Office – Missiles and Space
  • Redstone Test Center
  • Marshall Space Flight Center

North Alabama is home to more than 300 aerospace and defense companies, including:

  • AAR Integrated Technologies
  • AEgis Technologies
  • Aerojet Rocketdyne
  • Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.
  • Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
  • Blue Origin
  • The Boeing Company
  • Dynetics, Inc.
  • COLSA Corporation
  • General Dynamics Information Technology
  • Honeywell
  • Lockheed Martin Corporation
  • Moog, Inc.
  • Northrop Grumman Corporation
  • PPG Aerospace
  • Raytheon Corporation
  • Ruag Space
  • SAIC (Science Applications International Corporation)
  • Sierra Nevada Corporation
  • Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
  • Torch Technologies
  • United Launch Alliance
  • Vector Aerospace
  • WestWind Group Inc.
  • Yulista
Learn more about the aerospace industry in North Alabama