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Award from U.S. Air Force cements St. Louis as national hub for aerospace & defense technology, strengthens the region’s advanced manufacturing sector
Key Takeaways
- Contract to build new F-47 fighter jet will bring jobs, additional investment to facilities at St. Louis Lambert International Airport
- Adds to St. Louis’ aerospace and defense tech strengths, like NGA and Scott AFB
- Will also bolster the region’s advanced manufacturing sector
ST. LOUIS – President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Peter Hegseth announced today that the Administration has selected the Boeing Corporation to develop its new, sixth-generation fighter jet, to be known as the F-47. Media reports indicate that the contract could be worth at least $20 billion.
“This is fantastic news for Boeing and its team here in St. Louis and validates what we already knew: that Boeing has the best, most talented team in the industry,” said Dustin Allison, Interim CEO for Greater St. Louis, Inc., which worked with state and regional partners as a coalition supporting Project Voyager, Boeing’s ambitious, $1.8 billion project adjacent to St. Louis Lambert International Airport that set the stage for today’s announcement.
“The hard work the region undertook in support of Project Voyager helped set the stage for this major victory through a nearly $2 billion investment in the future of Boeing and the St. Louis region.”
Boeing directly employs nearly 16,000 people and indirectly impacts more than 34,000 jobs across the metro; spends over $750 million at more than 350 local suppliers; and is a leader in philanthropic work, donating $13 million annually to local charities.
St. Louis: National Center for Aerospace and Defense Technology, Advanced Manufacturing
St. Louis has a long history in aerospace and defense. Today’s announcement continues that legacy and cements St. Louis as one of the country’s true centers for aerospace, defense technology, and advanced manufacturing, adding to the region’s existing assets, which include:
- The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency will complete its new $1.75 billion state-of-the-art headquarters north of Downtown St. Louis later this year.
- Scott Air Force Base employs nearly 13,000 people in the region and is home to USTRANSCOM, which oversees the deployment and sustainment of U.S. forces worldwide.
- U.S. Senator Eric Schmitt has led efforts in Congress to establish St. Louis as a hub for “defense tech,” supported by funding for geospatial workforce development
- Boeing produces the MQ-25 Stingray unmanned air vehicle at Mid-America Airport in Mascoutah, Illinois.
- Boeing is a major supporter of the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Center, currently under construction in North St. Louis City.
“Not only will today’s announcement drive growth in jobs and investment here in St. Louis, but it also cements our region as a true national hub for aerospace and defense technology, as well as advanced manufacturing” added Allison. “This contract will only serve to grow and strengthen these sectors and our region’s economy well into the future.”
Media Contact: Tony Wyche | 314-398-9991 | Tony@GreaterSTLInc.com