Over the past 20 years, Aurora Flight Sciences, a Boeing company, has steadily increased its presence in Mississippi, transforming from a small operation into a key player in advanced aerosystems manufacturing.
In 2005, Aurora established its initial presence in the area at Mississippi State University’s Raspet Flight Research Laboratory in Starkville, Mississippi – a move that marked the company’s commitment to leverage the region’s resources and expertise in the aerospace industry and advanced manufacturing. This facility supported the production of a short-range, multi-mission unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and a scale model of the Orion high-altitude long-loiter (HALL) UAV, which was designed to serve as a testbed for an advanced hydrogen propulsion system.
By May 2007, Aurora relocated its manufacturing operations to a purpose-built facility at the Golden Triangle Regional (GTR) Airport in Columbus, Mississippi, where it still resides today. The site specializes in producing advanced composite components and assemblies for both military and commercial aircraft. Today, the facility supports several important programs including the MQ-25TM Stingray unmanned aerial refueler, military helicopters, and business jets.
“Our Mississippi facility integrates advanced manufacturing technology – including an automated fiber placement machine, autoclaves, and CNC machines – to support composite production,” said Luke Colville, VP of manufacturing at Aurora. “Composites offer significant benefits including enhanced strength and durability, weight reduction, and resistance to fatigue and corrosion, making them ideal for modern aircraft design.”
Over the past two decades, the facility has expanded its footprint from 21,000 square feet to over 120,000 square feet, and it’s still growing. The site is currently undergoing an expansion that will add new automation equipment, robotics, and non-destructive inspection technologies to the facility’s repertoire.
“This expansion is bringing in new capabilities, including 5-axis machining centers, additional ultrasonic inspection capabilities with new machines, and large mobile countersink robots to increase our automation,” said Jake Waldrep, manufacturing engineering manager at Aurora. “These additions will allow Aurora to produce more parts, in a shorter time frame, with unparalleled quality.”
Aurora in the Community
Throughout its tenure in Mississippi, Aurora has demonstrated a consistent commitment to growth and innovation, contributing to the state’s growing aerospace and manufacturing community.
The Aurora Mississippi team has maintained strong partnerships with local educational institutions, including Mississippi State University and East Mississippi Community College (EMCC). These collaborations focus on strengthening advanced manufacturing research, higher education, and workforce development, contributing to the region’s reputation as a hub for aerospace and manufacturing excellence.
“We have a very tight relationship with the local community college at EMCC, and we have a program set up with them to bring our new workforce in,” said Jake. “We also work very closely with Mississippi State and the Advanced Composite Institute, ACI. That relationship has allowed us to enrich the local community, educate our local workforce, and deliver high-performing aircraft to our customers.”
