From left to right: Clint Church, Phantom Works Chief Engineer, Massachusetts and Virginia sites; U.S. Congressman Michael Guest; Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves; Luke Colville, President and CEO, Aurora Flight Sciences; U.S. Senator Roger Wicker; U.S Congressman Trent Kelly.
The expansion adds close to 50,000 square feet and upgraded facilities to support growing aerospace production.
Aurora Flight Sciences, a Boeing company, celebrated the grand opening of a major expansion at its Mississippi manufacturing site on August 19th, marking a new chapter of growth. The grand opening event brought together state leaders, community partners, and Aurora team members to celebrate the milestone. Luke Colville, president and CEO of Aurora, joined Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves, Senator Roger Wicker, Congressman Trent Kelly, and Congressman Michael Guest in commemorating the facility’s growth and impact.
The program included remarks from federal and state officials, a ribbon cutting to officially unveil the new space, and a guided tour of the expanded facility, which manufactures advanced composite components and assemblies for a wide range of specialty aircraft, including the MQ-25A™ Stingray unmanned aerial refueler, military helicopters, business jets, and even spacecraft.
Aurora first established its presence in Mississippi in 2005 at Mississippi State University’s Raspet Flight Research Laboratory. Two years later, the company relocated to its current facility near the Golden Triangle Regional Airport in Columbus. What began as roughly 21,000 sq. ft. of manufacturing space has now grown to more than 170,000 sq. ft., strengthened by continued investment in advanced composites expertise, automation, and workforce development.
The latest expansion adds nearly 50,000 sq. ft. of new space and renovates 40,000 sq. ft. of existing space. The project brings new automation equipment, robotics, machining capabilities, and non-destructive inspection technologies, enabling Aurora to support growing customer demand and welcome new programs into the facility.
“This expansion is a milestone for Aurora and a testament to the strength of our Mississippi team,” said Colville. “We’re proud to bring this investment to the Columbus community and excited to continue growing our aerosystems business here. Our customers continue to choose Aurora because of the dedication, expertise, and quality delivered every day by our team.”
With approximately 120 team members currently on-site, Aurora expects to grow its workforce by more than 30 percent over the next four years. The company employs skilled technicians and offers training for individuals joining from local vocational programs, supported in part by long-standing partnerships with Mississippi State University, East Mississippi Community College, and regional career technical centers.
“Our relationships with Mississippi State University and East Mississippi Community College are essential to our long-term success,” said Colville. “These institutions help us develop a strong pipeline of skilled talent, advance new manufacturing research, and strengthen the broader aerospace community here in Mississippi. We’re grateful for their collaboration and proud of the opportunities we’re creating together.”
As the doors to the expanded facility officially open, Aurora celebrates not only new capabilities and capacity, but also the people powering its future.
“The hard work, dedication, and craftsmanship of our employees are the driving force behind everything we do,” Colville said. “Thank you to all of our team members for making this growth possible.”
Pictured from left to right: Matt Jenkins, Director, National Security Space Programs, Boeing; Congressman Michael Guest; Chrystal Morgan, Executive Director, Government Relations, Boeing; Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves; U.S. Senator Roger Wicker; Luke Colville, President and CEO, Aurora Flight Sciences; Congressman Trent Kelly.
