Aurora Flight Sciences expands headquarters and opens new Aerospace and Autonomy Center at MIT
Independent Boeing subsidiary will add robotics and integration facility in Manassas, VA and lease 100,000 ft2 in new MIT building.
Aurora Flight Sciences, a pioneer in unmanned aircraft and autonomous flight, will invest more than $13.75 million to expand operations at its Manassas, VA headquarters. The company, which was acquired by The Boeing Company in 2017, plans to build a robotics and integration facility that will consist of a manufacturing unit, a research and development lab, a hangar and office space. The project will create 135 new jobs.
Aurora develops robotic cockpit solutions such as the ALIAS automated flight system. SOURCE: Aurora Flight Sciences
Boeing and Aurora have also announced agreement to lease about 100,000 square feet in a new office building MIT is planning in Cambridge, MA. It will serve as a new Aerospace and Autonomy Center for the UAV manufacturer.
Aurora operates production plants in Bridgeport, West Virginia and Columbus, Mississippi, and has R&D Centers in Cambridge, MA, Dayton, OH and Menlo Park, CA, as well as a European office located in Luzern, Switzerland.
“Since choosing the Manassas Airport to locate our headquarters nearly 27 years ago, we have prided ourselves in bringing new technology to the region and becoming one of the largest employers in the City,” said Founder and CEO of Aurora Flight Sciences John Langford. “Now as part of The Boeing Company, we are able to continue our expansion in developing next-generation autonomous systems that will transform transportation.”
The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with the City of Manassas to secure the project for Virginia. Former Governor Terry McAuliffe approved a $500,000 grant from the Commonwealth’s Opportunity Fund to assist Manassas with the project. The company will also be eligible to receive Sales and Use tax exemptions on manufacturing equipment, as well as a Major Business Facility Job Tax Credit. Funding and services to support the company’s employee training activities will be provided through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program.
“Unmanned aircraft and autonomous flight are key components of an emerging tech market that is vital to Virginia’s economic future,” said Senator Jeremy McPike. “I’m proud to support Aurora Flight Sciences, based right here at Manassas airport, on their continued expansion in the aerospace industry.”
Related Content
-
Toray, University of Chicago speed up polymer recycling R&D
A jointly developed multi-scale computational predictive technique can accurately predict viscoelasticity from the chemical structures of polymers, ramping up product maturation.
-
FACC Academy begins training, onboarding operations
FACC’s newly launched training platform will address skilled aerospace worker shortages head on, offering more than 250 specialized training courses for its entire workforce.
-
Inha University incorporates SwiftComp simulation software to virtually test composites
AnalySwift’s SwiftComp tool aims to mitigate the burden of costly experiments and enable accurate testing of woven and braided composite structures.
