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Oklahoma's Aerospace Industry: By the Numbers
#1
Lowest cost of doing business
CNBC America’s Best States for Business, 2025
5
military
installations
11
Oklahoma colleges and universities offer aerospace degrees and certifications
120,000+
Oklahomans are employed in Oklahoma’s aerospace and defense industries
845,000+
acres of UAS
test sites
1,100+
aerospace entities operate in the state including manufacturers, MRO, research and development and others
Find us at Air, Space & Cyber Conference Booth #951
in National Harbor, Maryland Sept. 22-24
Air, Space & Cyber 2025 Partner Directory
CymSTAR LLC
Matthew Jamison, Vice President, Business Development
matt.jamison@cymstar.com
www.cymstar.com
CymSTAR is a leading provider of innovative simulation and training solutions for the defense, aerospace, and commercial industries. Specializing in the design, development, modification, and sustainment of flight simulators and training systems, CymSTAR delivers cutting-edge technology to enhance mission readiness and operational performance. The company offers customized solutions, including system integration, engineering services, and maintenance support for various aircraft and autonomous platforms. With a commitment to quality, innovation, and customer satisfaction, CymSTAR supports U.S. military branches and international clients, ensuring reliable, cost-effective training systems that meet evolving mission requirements and industry standards.
MyDefence North America
Tony Dedmond, Director of US Operation
tld@mydefence.us
www.mydefence.com
MyDefence North America, led by former military personnel, delivers innovative anti-drone technology at the vanguard of the industry, designed to safeguard critical infrastructure and enhance operational efficiency for both military and civilian clients. Specializing in wearable, vehicle, and perimeter systems, we provide comprehensive drone detection and mitigation solutions. By partnering with leading industry providers, we ensure top-tier detection capabilities along with advanced soft and hard mitigation options.
Our mission is clear: We Save Lives.
University of Oklahoma - OADII
Matt Hulver, Interim Director of OADII, OU Vice President of Research and Partnerships
oadii@ou.edu
www.ou.edu/oadii
OADII was launched in support of the Aerospace, Defense, and Global Security initiative through the Office of the Vice President for Research and Partnerships at the University of Oklahoma. As a research accelerator, we turn discoveries into solutions by bridging the gap between innovations and real-world challenges. Our vision is to be a transformative national leader in collaborative research by connecting strategic stakeholders with innovative and relevant aerospace and defense solutions.
Imagine the Possibilities
Incentives
Not only is Oklahoma a right-to-work state with labor costs 25 percent below the national average, but we also offer a variety of business incentives like the Aerospace Industry Engineer Workforce Tax Credit and 21st Century Quality Jobs Program.
Committed to Growing Aerospace
In Oklahoma, aerospace matters and we’ve proved it with the creation of the ACES program and Oklahoma’s Aerospace + Defense Team. We’re growing and diversifying the sector through workforce development, support of existing businesses and recruitment of new investment to the state.
Oklahoma vs. the Competition
When it comes to corporate income tax, cost of living, energy costs and labor, Oklahoma beats nearly every competitor. See the data for yourself.
Unmanned Systems
In the emerging unmanned industry, our unique mix of terrain and testing capacity make Oklahoma perfect for UAS/UAV research and development. Oklahoma is a UAS hub for fire and rescue, precision agriculture, safety and security, transmission monitoring, weather, and aerial photography.
Weather Research + Technology
The National Weather Center and NOAA’s Severe Storms Laboratory are located in Norman, Okla.
FAA Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center
The Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center is the nation’s central FAA and USDOT support and training facility — 76,000 students are trained through the center annually.
Relocation + Expansion
Looking to relocate to or expand in Oklahoma? Tell our team more about your project.
- Comprehensive Industry Guide
Oklahoma’s Aerospace Clusters
The more than 1,100 aerospace entities, employing more than 120,000 Oklahomans, are operating in Oklahoma encompassing all aspects of the supply chain — manufacturers, MRO, research and development, military and others.
Central Region (Oklahoma City)
Tinker AFB
Federal Aviation Administration
- AAR
- Acorn Capital Management
- AeroCoreX
- Boeing
- CAE
- Critical Components
- Delaware Resource Group
- Field Aerospace
- Frontier Electronic Systems Corp.
- GE Aviation
- General Dynamics
- Kratos Defense & Security Solutions
- Lockheed Martin
- Metrea Special Aerospace
- Mint Turbines
- Moog
- Northrop Grumman
- North Star Scientific
- Pratt & Whitney
- Qualified Coating Services
- Raytheon Technologies Corp.
- Rolls-Royce
- Skydweller
- SkyWest
Northeast Region (Tulsa)
Tulsa Air National Guard
- Accurus Aerospace Corp.
- Agile Space Industries
- American Airlines MRO
- Cherokee Nation Aerospace & Defense
- Consolidated Turbine Specialists
- CymSTAR
- Ferra Aerospace
- FlightSafety
- Intercontinental Jet Service Corp.
- L3Harris
- Lufthansa Technik
- Malone’s CNC Machining
- MST Manufacturing
- NORDAM
- Orizon Aerostructures
- Skyway36 Droneport
- Spirit AeroSystems
- TAT/Limco
- Valence Surface Technologies
- Vertical Aerospace
- WHI Global
- WindShape, Inc
Northwest Region
Vance AFB
- Aircraft Structures International Corporation (ASIC)
- Vantage Plane Plastics
Southeast Region
- AERO Component Repair
- Choctaw Defense
- Choctaw Nation Emerging
- Aviation Technology Center
- Enviro Systems
- King Aerospace
Southwest Region
Altus AFB
Fort Sill
- BAE Systems
- Blue Halo
- Camgian
- Counter UAS Center of Excellence
- Duncan Machine Products
- FISTA (Fires Innovation Science and Technology Accelerator)
- Oklahoma Air & Space Port
- Raytheon Missile & Defense
Oklahoma Business + Site Selection News
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Subscribe today to stay up-to-date on the latest business and site selection news from Oklahoma.
Oklahoma is the premier location for the ever-evolving unmanned systems sector. Key assets and test sites across the state are setting the stage for research and development, manufacturing and more. Find out more about the state’s Advanced Air Mobility and Unmanned Systems Sector.
UAS Graduate Degree Programs
The nation’s first graduate (MS and PhD) degree programs in unmanned aerial systems engineering at a research university at Oklahoma State University.
Unmanned Systems Research Institute
OSU is home to the Unmanned Systems Research Institute (USRI) which accesses expertise across the university, combining cutting edge product development with academic knowledge and resources to create unique solutions to critical problems. USRI was the first in the U.S. to receive approval from the FAA to fly an unmanned fixed-wing aircraft swarm within national airspace.
National Weather Center
The NWC is the largest confederation of federal, university and private sector weather and climate research, education, operational and public outreach organizations on the planet. The Norman facility is the headquarters for severe storm tracking and prediction across the U.S.
National Severe Storms Laboratory
NOAA’s National Severe Storms Laboratory in Norman conducts research on both cold and warm season hazardous weather events, and collaborates with both OU and OSU to characterize severe storms using UAS.
Choctaw Nation Daisy Ranch
Daisy Ranch is a 44,000+ acre site for the development of a UAS RDT&E site and an industrial park. Here, the Choctaw Nation is hosting its BEYOND program, a partnership with the FAA and other industry partners to safely test and validate advanced UAS operations.
Projects + Partners
Between 2014 and 2019, $44 million in contracts were awarded to Oklahoma companies and institutions in support of unmanned aerial systems from sponsors that include the National Science Foundation, NASA, the Department of Energy, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Department of Defense, the Federal Aviation Administration, and numerous private companies.
- Unmanned Systems Brochure
Oklahoma’s Aerospace + Defense News
Your Aerospace + Defense Team
Contact us today, we’re here to help.
Leshia Pearson
Rob Wilcox, Chief Petty Officer, Navy (Ret.)
Kallie Hanisch
Kadi Walker
More than 120,000 Oklahomans are employed in the aerospace and defense sector.
Oklahoma’s Aerospace Industry: By the Numbers
#1 Lowest Cost of Doing Business
CNBC America’s Best States for Business, 2025
845,000+ acres of UAS test sites
5 military installations
11 Oklahoma colleges and university offer aerospace degrees and certifications
Aerospace & Defense Assets
including National Weather Center, Oklahoma Air & Space Port, FAA Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center
20-30% lower energy costs than U.S. average
Energy Information Administration