GOED 2019 Annual Repor t
Utah Strategic Industry Clusters
Aerospace and Defense Utah is home to several aerospace and defense companies, including Albany Engineered Composites, BAE Systems, Boeing, L-3 Communications, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman. Utah’s core aerospace and defense competencies include design, composites manufacturing, software and control systems, sophisticated testing and repair maintenance. Utah’s aerospace industry accounts for approximately 944 establishments and approximately 33,656 jobs, and is projected to see continued growth over the next decade. Specialized companies such as ACT Aerospace, Borsight, Conductive Composites, CyberJet, Janicki Industries, JBT AeroTech, KIHOMAC, Parker Hannifin, Petersen and Williams International are large contributors to the growing supply chain for both commercial and defense applications in the state. Hill Air Force Base, with more than 22,000 employees, is the primary maintainer for the F-35 and has a multiplier effect on the growing defense industry here in the state. In addition to cutting-edge programs at Hill Air Force Base, Utah also hosts high-tech military testing at Dugway Proving Grounds and various developments at the Utah Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Testing and Training Center. The UAS Center is a collaborative partnership between the State of Utah, Utah State University, Northrop Grumman and Box Elder County. The center’s air strip is approximately 30 miles west of Brigham City at an elevation of 4,400 feet, within a shallow valley north of the Great Salt Lake. The UAS Center operates from Northrop Grumman’s secure 20,000-acre facility and offers unique capabilities to UAS operators. In addition, the UAS Center is working with the FAA to establish a simplified framework for high altitude and beyond-line of sight operations.
Initiatives The Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, in conjunction with the Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) and the Utah Department of Transportation will analyze aviation-enabled economic development potential in communities driven by strategic airport and community investments. In-depth interviews with community and business leaders in the areas surrounding the existing 46 airports will be conducted. The focus of these interviews will be to conduct qualitative research on opportunities and challenges facing each community’s use of the airport to support economic development.
Contact Chanel Flores
Aerospace Cluster Director
801-200-7432 | cflores@utah.gov
The Utah Department of Transportation, in conjunction with the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, the Economic Development Corporation of Utah and the University of Utah, among others, created the Urban Air Mobility working group to help enable the framework for safe and effective autonomous aerial transportation. In addition, the working group is looking at designing and planning the infrastructure needed to integrate Aerial Taxis, UAS package delivery and recreational UAS with manned operations in an urban environment.
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