Aerospace / Defense companies find success here

• Home to 180 Aerospace / Defense companies, including Dassault Falcon Jet, which has established its largest facility in the world in central Arkansas, along with Lockheed Martin, Aerojet Rocketdyne, General Dynamics and other major businesses
• Third lowest cost of doing business and the third lowest cost of living nationally
• Competitive incentives and a streamlined state government
• Arkansas is one of 27 Right to work states

poised for growth

• Aerospace / Defense is Arkansas’ leading export. In 2017, aircraft & aircraft parts were Arkansas’s largest category of export with over $1.5 B dollars in goods exported
• Numerous available sites with runway access and aviation-focused facilities
• Strong support from Governor Asa Hutchinson and our Congressional delegation

Well-trained workforce

• 7,800 employees in Aerospace / Defense manufacturing; 3,000 directly engaged in aerospace products and parts manufacturing
• 2,475 Airframe and Powertrain (A&P) licensed mechanics
• The Little Rock Air Force Base has more than 12,000 personnel, including civilians, active duty and Army Reserve Force
• From 2010 to present, nearly 1,300 aerospace jobs have been created statewide

INFRASTRUCTURE

• Three U.S. Interstates connecting east and west coasts, and the Canada and Mexico borders, including I-30, I-55, and I-40
• 16,418 miles of state and U.S. Highways – 12th largest system in the U.S.
• Eight Intermodal freight facilities with four riverports
• 2,505 miles of rail and three Class 1 rail systems
• #3 in the nation with 1,000 miles of inland, navigable waterways
• More than 90 public airports including Clinton National, Northwest Arkansas Regional, and close proximity to Memphis International Airport and the Fed-Ex hub

EDUCATION

• 45 colleges, universities & 2-year colleges throughout Arkansas
• 6 educational institutions offer a certification in Aviation Maintenance Technology including both Powerplant and Airframe mechanic career education
• 26 colleges, universities, 2-year colleges, high schools and other organizations offer coursework, instruction or degrees in cyber security
• Over 1,600 engineering-related certificates and degrees awarded annually

Aerospace & Defense Industry

Executive Overview