BAE Systems is expanding its advanced manufacturing footprint in Colorado, with plans to bring hundreds of jobs to Weld County. The defense and aerospace contractor announced the purchase of a 130,000-square-foot production facility on approximately 13 acres, where it will increase manufacturing capacity for space-based hardware and sensor systems. According to the company, more than 200 new employees are expected to be hired over the next 12 to 24 months, with the facility potentially supporting approximately 600 workers at full capacity.
The expansion will create opportunities for manufacturing engineers, machinists, technicians, production supervisors, and supply chain professionals. BAE Systems plans to retrofit the facility and purchase equipment before beginning production in early 2028. The new location will join the company’s existing Colorado operations in Boulder, Broomfield, and Westminster, further expanding its presence in the state’s aerospace and defense industry. According to the Denver Business Journal, the project is also supported by state tax incentives tied to job creation and investment.
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What if robots could recognize when something was wrong before they broke down? NASA is investing nearly $1.3 million in technology designed to give autonomous machines that capability. California-based AstraQua has secured a $1,274,990 Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract to advance its AstraSense technology, which uses artificial intelligence to monitor a machine’s condition and identify potential problems before they become failures. The technology is being developed for electric and hybrid-electric aircraft, with the goal of helping autonomous systems determine when to continue operating, adjust their performance, or stop altogether.
The concept goes beyond preventing equipment failures. AstraQua is developing technology that could eventually allow teams of drones and robots to share information about their operating conditions and redistribute tasks when one machine experiences a problem. The company’s founder and CEO, Loay Elbasyouni, previously supported NASA’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter program and worked on rocket-engine avionics at Blue Origin. Under the new NASA contract, AstraQua will focus on integrating its technology with aircraft systems and validating its performance for safety-critical applications. The effort highlights growing investment in AI-powered autonomy, particularly as aerospace and defense organizations explore ways to make unmanned systems more reliable and less dependent on continuous human oversight.
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L3Harris Technologies is expanding its defense manufacturing capabilities with the opening of a new 60,000-square-foot solid rocket motor production facility in Camden, AR. The facility, called the Arsenal of Freedom, is designed to double current production capacity, with room for additional growth. Using advanced automation, robotics, and digital manufacturing, the facility will support the U.S. Army’s Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS), which provides precision fires capabilities. The expansion is part of a $216 million cooperative agreement signed with the Department of War in 2023 to increase production capacity for tactical missile systems, including Javelin, Stinger, and GMLRS.
The Arkansas facility is just one piece of a much larger manufacturing expansion. L3Harris is investing billions of dollars across Arkansas, California, Virginia, and Alabama, with approximately 60 new facilities planned to increase rocket propulsion production. The company is also expanding its Camden operations with additional facilities supporting PAC-3 missile propulsion. These investments are expected to increase manufacturing capacity for several critical defense programs while creating additional opportunities for skilled manufacturing workers. As demand for missile systems continues to grow, expanding domestic production capacity remains a priority for the defense industrial base.
