2025 Annual Report
Letter from the State Director of Aerospace & Defense
The Oklahoma ACES team is proud to present the 2025 Annual Report, a year marked by strategic evolution and robust momentum for our state’s second-largest industry.
A primary focus this year was the revision of the ACES Aerospace and Defense Statewide Strategy. This updated roadmap ensures our resources remain aligned with the rapidly changing needs of the global market, prioritizing sustainable growth and technological leadership.
Our commitment to these goals has yielded significant results. We continue to celebrate major project wins and prioritize company expansions, reinforcing Oklahoma’s reputation as a premier destination for aerospace and defense investment. Beyond recruitment, ACES remains dedicated to the success of our existing partners through targeted industry support activities. From high-level collaboration at the Bomber Summit and Boeing Industry Days to building our future workforce at statewide Career Fairs, ACES is the bridge between industry needs and actionable solutions.
As we look ahead, we remain focused on strengthening the partnerships between our military installations, private industry and educational institutions to ensure Oklahoma remains a global aerospace powerhouse.
Leshia M. Pearson Director, Aerospace & Defense Oklahoma Department of Commerce Leshia.Pearson@okcommerce.gov
Aerospace & Defense Economic Development Progress
Since 2018, the state has invested $11.2 million in the ACES program. Over that time, the ACES team has secured $2.46 billion in new capital investment. invested in ACES program
$11.2M in new capital investment $2.46B
FROM THE BEGINNING
Since Nov. 1, 2018, Oklahoma ACES has helped secure in investments
$2.46 Billion
159 new jobs created
10,240
project wins
A RECAP OF 2025
$454,020,864
37 new jobs created
Metro AreA Wins: 60% project wins
1,325 in investments
With the close of 2025, ACES had 70 open A&D projects with the potential for $6.8B+ in capital investment and more than 11,419 new jobs with an average salary of $85,613. capital investment in the pipeline $6.8B+ new jobs 11,419 average annual salary $85,613
Major Aerospace & Defense News and Announcements
TRADE SHOW AND PROJECT SUCCESSES DELIVER STRATEGIC GROWTH
The ACES program’s targeted outreach resulted in five major project announcements that underscore Oklahoma’s competitive advantages:
Firehawk Aerospace, Inc.
Headquarters: Fort Sill
Will build a $22 million, 40,000-square-foot facility for solid and hybrid rocket motor manufacturing, expected to create 100 new jobs.
Kratos Defense and Security Solutions, Inc.
Headquarters: Bristow
Announced a new 50,000-square-foot advanced manufacturing facility for turbojet engine production, with an initial 60 new jobs and plans to expand to 100,000 square feet. This announcement was made during the Paris Air Show.
Dawn Aerospace USA, LLC
Headquarters: Burns Flat
In an agreement with the Oklahoma Space Industry Development Authority (OSIDA), the New Zealand-based firm made the Oklahoma Air and Space Port the base of its U.S. operations for the Mk-II Aurora spaceplane, pioneering daily spaceflight capability. This announcement was made during the Paris Air Show.
CBC Global Ammunition
Headquarters: Pryor
This foreign direct investment success will see a $300 million manufacturing facility at MidAmerica Industrial Park, creating 350 jobs and supplying U.S. law enforcement and military markets. The deal was closed in part due to the Quick Action Closing Fund. This announcement was made during the SelectUSA Investment Summit.
Long Wave, Inc.
Headquarters: Oklahoma City
A significant expansion is underway to hire 100 new professionals in systems engineering and technical roles to support the E-130J aircraft program and other defense initiatives.
2025 OIEP & BEIP IMPACT IN OKLAHOMA AEROSPACE & DEFENSE
OKLAHOMA INNOVATION EXPANSION PROGRAM (OIEP)
Baskins Machined Products (Collinsville): $122,875
Dow Aero (Oklahoma City): $90,000
Ferra Aerospace (Grove): $120,000
BUSINESS EXPANSION INCENTIVE PROGRAM (BEIP)
Aircraft Structures International
Corporation (Enid): $150,000
Covington Aircraft Engines (Okmulgee): $800,000
MST Manufacturing (Claremore): $1,400,000
2025 Aerospace & Defense Project Wins
Bethany
Capital Aviation, Inc.
Bristow Kratos Defense
PAS MRO, Inc.
Rajon, LLC
Broken Arrow
Hill Manufacturing and Fabrication
Gavco Plastics, Inc.
Rise Manufacturing, LLC
Catoosa
Newton Design, LLC
Chickasha
HIS Sensing
Colbert
Weldco Manufacturing, LLC
Collinsville
Baskins Machined Products, LLC
Del City AeroCoreX, LLC
Duncan Southern Machine Works, Inc.
Enid
Aircraft Structures
International Corporation
Grove
Ferra Aerospace, Inc.
Guthrie
Radial Engines Ltd.
Lawton
Firehawk Aerospace
FISTA
Picogrid, Inc.
Oklahoma City
Applied Industrial Machining, LLC
Delaware Resource Group of Oklahoma, LLC
Dow Aero, LLC
Hop Aero
Valco, Inc.
Wall Colmonoy
Corporation
Okmulgee
Covington Aircraft Engines
Ponca City
Greenwood Group, Inc.
Pryor
CBC Global Ammunition
Shawnee
United Dynamics, Inc.
Stillwater
RPX Technologies, Inc.
Tulsa
Aviation Avionics & Instruments, Inc.
M&M Precision Components, LLC
PRESCOR, LLC
Preston-Eastin, Inc.
It has been a pleasure working with the Oklahoma Department of Commerce and the ACES program for the last several years. Oklahoma is strong in the aerospace, defense and space sectors and continues to grow at a blistering pace. Commerce and the ACES team have been leading innovative programs, networking opportunities and an unparalleled dedication to manufacturing, education and our entire industry. MST will continue to support the initiatives of these incredible entities with the same mutual enthusiasm we have shown for all these years.
- Kenny Statton CEO, MST Manufacturing
Oklahoma Aerospace & Defense on a Global Scale
125%
INCREASE IN AEROSPACE EXPORTS OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS
GLOBAL MISSIONS, LOCAL IMPACT: STRENGTHENING OKLAHOMA’S AEROSPACE AND WORKFORCE
In the fall of 2025, Oklahoma ACES and its partners launched a series of trade and workforce missions designed to bridge international gaps and fuel the state’s economy.
LEARNING FROM THE BEST: THE GERMAN APPRENTICESHIP MODEL
Governor Stitt and the Oklahoma ACES team recently visited Hamburg to discuss vocational training, apprenticeship programs, collaboration opportunities and other economic development-related issues with some of our international partners. While there, the team paid a visit to Lufthansa’s apprentice training center to learn more about its technical training programs, as the company continues work on the expansion of its Lufthansa Technik Tulsa facility.
STRENGTHENING TIES: INBOUND MISSIONS FROM ASIA
Oklahoma also opened its doors to industry leaders from South Korea and Japan, further cementing the state’s reputation as a global aerospace hub.
South Korea & UAS Innovation: A delegation representing Korean Unmanned Aerial Vehicle companies spent two days in Oklahoma learning about the state’s aerospace sector, and connecting with potential local partners and collaborators. This event is the result of a previous trade mission to Korea led by the Oklahoma Department of Commerce.
Japan
& Strategic Defense: Partnering with the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), Oklahoma hosted Japanese firms looking to expand in the aerospace and defense sectors. This follow-up to Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell’s recent 40th-anniversary sister-state visit to Kyoto included tours of the Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education (OAIRE) and Tulsa Innovation Labs, showcasing the state’s cutting-edge research infrastructure.
Showcasing Oklahoma & Increasing Growth Opportunities for Oklahoma Companies
The Commerce ACES Team facilitates multiple avenues to growth opportunities for existing Oklahoma aerospace and defense companies. This includes national and international trade show delegations, providing an opportunity for Oklahoma companies that may not have the budget to attend on their own to display and meet with potential customers at some of the most highly attended industry events.
Federal funds through the U.S. Small Business Administration’s State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) grant support Oklahoma small businesses, increase export sales and diversify into international markets.
DURING 2025, THE ACES TEAM ATTENDED 10 TRADE SHOWS ALONGSIDE PARTNERS FROM:
39
29 $178M
1,501 $29.57M 95 8
DURING FISCAL YEAR 2025-2026*, OKLAHOMA COMPANIES PARTICIPATED IN 19 STEP-SUPPORTED TRADE SHOWS AND BENEFITED FROM:
Statewide Outreach
A HIGHLIGHT OF 2025 EVENTS THAT SUPPORT ACES STRATEGIC GOALS
OKLAHOMA AEROSPACE FORUM
The annual Oklahoma Aerospace Forum, established in 2018, connects professionals in Oklahoma’s aerospace industry. This one-day event provides a platform for networking, discussing industry trends and challenges, and learning about state support for aerospace. The 2025 event attracted 272 attendees from 143 different aerospace and defense companies. These attendees included industry leaders, government representatives and educators.
272 ATTENDEES
143
AEROSPACE & DEFENSE COMPANIES PARTICIPATED
OKLAHOMA AEROSPACE & DEFENSE CAREER FAIRS
During 2025, ACES hosted two free career fairs for people in the aerospace and defense sector. These events drew more than 300 job seekers to meet with 52 Oklahoma aerospace and defense companies that were actively hiring. From high school students to senior engineers, the exhibiting companies had immediate openings for every level of qualification.
300+ JOB SEEKERS ATTENDED
52
AEROSPACE & DEFENSE COMPANIES PARTICIPATED
I had the opportunity to work with the ACES team on the Bomber Directorate Small Business Summit in 2025 and the event was a resounding success. Having access to committed and dedicated partners that helped organize the event, communicate to all partners and engage the small business community was essential to identifying great vendors that can help us solve some of our most difficult sustainment challenges. Building an ecosystem and providing access to industry, education and state resources would be impossible without the stalwart support ACES utilizes to cultivate the right capabilities for the warfighter here in Oklahoma.
- David E. Hanisch
Lt. Col., USAF | B-1 Deputy System Program Manager, Tinker Air Force Base
STRENGTHENING TIES AND INCREASING CONTRACTS IN OKLAHOMA’S DEFENSE SECTOR
Oklahoma has been a key player in the defense and homeland security industry since World War II. With five major military installations employing 70,000 people and generating $19 billion in economic activity from military & defense aviation alone, it is critical to the stability of Oklahoma’s economy that Oklahoma ACES makes significant efforts to increase partnership opportunities between military operations and Oklahoma companies.
Tinker and the Primes
Oklahoma ACES, the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics, CareerTech and Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance joined together to support the aerospace and defense industry at Tinker and the Primes. The event is a valuable opportunity to highlight Oklahoma’s progress that helps drive this industry forward. Working closely with state partners and the private sector is essential to supporting continued growth, attracting new investment and keeping Oklahoma at the forefront of aerospace and defense innovation. The event is also vital for keeping Department of Defense contracts, and the dollars that come with them, in state.
Boeing Industry Day
On October 27, 2025, Boeing Oklahoma City and the Oklahoma ACES hosted an Industry Day at Rose State College. The event drew over 50 suppliers to explore Boeing’s engineering, cybersecurity and geopolitical priorities. While Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell highlighted the state’s thriving business climate, Boeing leadership provided deep dives into supplier expectations. The day concluded with matchmaking sessions and breakout discussions, allowing diverse companies to showcase their capabilities and join Boeing’s expanding supply chain.
Bomber Summit Industry Day
Oklahoma ACES, alongside Rose State College and the Oklahoma Defense Industry Association, worked with the AFLCMC Bombers Directorate to host the 2025 Bombers Directorate Small Business Summit at Rose State College. This event was for Oklahoma/non-Oklahoma, SBIR-approved small businesses to help revitalize an underutilized sector of the industrial base to resolve supportability issues, fill Mission Impaired Capability Awaiting Parts (MICAPs) and increase Bomber aircraft availability.
1,350 ATTENDEES AND 68 EXHIBITORS
53 REGISTRANTS FROM 35 BUSINESSES
REGISTRANTS FROM
Advancing Aerospace Together
OKLAHOMA BOASTS A ROBUST LEGACY IN SPACE, AVIATION, AEROSPACE AND DEFENSE
For more than 70 years, the state has played host to what are now the largest military and commercial aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) centers in the world: Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City and American Airlines Technical Operations in Tulsa.
Oklahoma remains an extremely competitive and attractive state for manufacturing-heavy operations. It is from this position the state will grow the A&D industry to the number one economic engine. Existing public policy and tax laws are favorable to business, especially in the A&D industry. Below are a few examples of how ACES partnerships and statewide collaboration helped advance the industry statewide and foster new growth opportunities in 2025.
Supporting Pilot Training & Aviation Infrastructure
The ACES team visited Vance Air Force Base and Woodring Regional Airport in Enid to align state resources with local needs. Tour highlights included the new Pilot Training Transformation curriculum using virtual reality simulators and expanded hangar facilities that support both the community and Vance’s operational mission.
Startups & Advanced Technologies
Oklahoma’s high-tech manufacturing sector saw significant growth with Firehawk Aerospace’s $22 million investment in a Lawton facility to produce 3D-printed rocket propellant. Additionally, Lufthansa Technik broke ground on a multi-million-dollar expansion in Tulsa, adding a 25,000-square-foot facility for an updated avionics workshop and 90 new workstations to increase production capacity.
Higher Education Collaboration
Rose State College secured a $750,000 grant from the Oklahoma Workforce Commission to launch the state’s first (and the nation’s second) associate degree in simulation technology. The program includes stackable micro-credentials to rapidly train technicians for mission-critical training systems in the aerospace, defense and healthcare sectors.
MRO Operations & Engine Sustainment
Oklahoma continues to lead in engine sustainment through the success of Consolidated Turbine Specialists (CTS) in Bristow, a key MRO player specializing in Pratt & Whitney engine repair. This local ecosystem was further strengthened by a $45,000 Oklahoma Innovation Expansion Program (OIEP) award to PAS MRO, supporting capital improvements and capacity growth for airframe component maintenance.
Promoting Oklahoma’s Aerospace & Defense Sector
DIGITAL MARKETING
Through the ACES Advocate, a monthly digital newsletter, and active social media accounts, ACES delivers valuable content, including exclusive event announcements, business opportunities, program updates and relevant industry news.
EMAIL OUTREACH
aces advOcate newsletter pOst-trade sHOw lead nurture email campaigns
8,463 ACTIVE SUBSCRIBERS
597 NEW LEADS/CONTACTS 15% AVERAGE OPEN RATE
53% AVERAGE OPEN RATE
SOCIAL MEDIA
48.3% INCREASE IN ENGAGEMENT
25.8% AUDIENCE GROWTH YEAR-OVER-YEAR
12.3% INCREASE IN ENGAGEMENT
9.7% AUDIENCE GROWTH YEAR-OVER-YEAR