TECHNOLOGY
OUT OF THIS WORLD Here’s how Arizona leads the way in aerospace and defense
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Steven G. Zylstra Technology
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AB | March - April 2021
mong the many industries in Arizona’s diverse and thriving technology ecosystem, aerospace and defense is the most tenured, stable and successful. During WWII, Arizona began establishing military bases and they are now spread throughout the state. In fact, the government owns more land than the private sector in Arizona and U.S. military bases contribute more than $11 billion annually to the state’s economy, according to the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA).
Not surprisingly, Arizona’s growth in the aerospace and defense sector coincided with the growth of the state’s military bases. It all began largely because of Arizona’s immaculate weather and clear skies yearround, making it a perfect place for military training and equipment testing. As the military established facilities here, the big defense prime contractors also moved to Arizona to be close to the customers they were supporting. This in turn, prompted the contractors’ own suppliers to move here as
