Oklahoma City, OK — The Oklahoma Aerospace & Defense team (ACES), a division of the Oklahoma Department of Commerce, returned home after a successful trip to the 2025 Paris Air Show, the largest showcase for the aerospace and defense industry in the world.
The Oklahoma delegation attending the show included Governor Kevin Stitt, Secretary of Commerce Deborah Moorad, Secretary of Military & Veteran Affairs John Nash, seven state representatives, 11 Oklahoma companies, three economic development organizations, three higher education institutions and two other state agencies.
“When I took office, I promised to bring Oklahoma to the world, and the world to Oklahoma,” said Governor Stitt. “Every time I talk to a company at these shows they are asking how they can do business in Oklahoma, because they see our pro-business, pro-freedom policies are allowing the free market to thrive. That’s exactly why we are the MRO capital of the world and one of the fastest rising hubs for national defense.”
During the show, Governor Stitt met with U.S. Secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffy, and multiple international companies interested in expanding operations to Oklahoma. In total, the Oklahoma delegation met with executives of more than 80 businesses to explain the benefits of doing business in Oklahoma.
“Our goal is for companies to love Oklahoma as much as we do,” said Secretary of Commerce Deborah Moorad. “In our meetings with senior leadership and key industry stakeholders, companies now recognize Oklahoma as the most business-friendly state in the country and a key player in aerospace and defense. The conversations we had at the Paris Air Show are laying the groundwork for new investment in this rapidly growing sector which means more jobs and a stronger economic future for Oklahoma.”
During the show, the Oklahoma delegation announced a series of significant developments that will generate millions of dollars in new investment and create high-quality jobs for Oklahomans.
- Kratos Defense and Security Solutions: Kratos announced a decision to reinvest in Oklahoma by building a new advanced manufacturing facility in Bristow to produce its GEK (GE Aerospace-Kratos) family of turbojet engines. The project is expected to add 60 jobs.
- Dawn Aerospace: Oklahoma Commerce and the Oklahoma Space Industry Development Authority (OSIDA) announced a partnership with Dawn Aerospace to bring spaceflight to the Oklahoma Air and Space Port in Burns Flat. The first flight is scheduled for 2027.
- MST Manufacturing: Claremore-based MST Manufacturing announced a strategic partnership with Modig Machine Tools to address complex tooling challenges and a long-term agreement with CPI Aero for parts manufacturing.
“I couldn’t be more excited to announce at the Paris Air Show that Kratos is reinvesting in Oklahoma,” said Stacey Rock, President of Kratos Turbine Technologies. “This facility underscores Kratos’ commitment to the state and our strategy of delivering affordable, high-performance, made-in-America propulsion systems at scale. Bristow will be a critical site for meeting the growing propulsion needs of our defense customers.”
“The Paris Air Show was the perfect venue to announce that Oklahoma is going to space,” said Representative Nick Archer. “This partnership with Dawn Aerospace will make our state and Burns Flat the premier U.S. launch site for microgravity research. I can’t wait to see how this agreement transforms Oklahoma and revolutionizes the way the country thinks about spaceflight.”
The show also highlighted announcements that will enhance educational pathways to strengthen the state’s future workforce.
- Southwestern Oklahoma State University: SWOSU signed an education memorandum of understanding (MOU) with PPA Business School in Paris. The MOU creates a pathway for PPA Business graduates to enter the SWOSU Master of Business Administration degree program. The PPA graduates will attend courses and complete their MBA as traditional students in Weatherford.
- Rose State College: Rose State College announced that it has secured funding to launch Oklahoma’s first associate degree in simulation technology. The program will be just the second of its kind in the nation.
“Simulation technology is a rapidly growing field, and the Paris Air Show was the perfect place to announce this brand-new program that will provide students with a direct pipeline into high-paying, high-demand careers in Oklahoma,” said Whitney Alvis, Dean of Workforce at Rose State College. “By combining hands-on training with stackable micro-credentials, we’re not only meeting the urgent needs of our industry partners but also providing students with the tools they need to succeed and grow throughout their careers.”
With a $44 billion economic impact, aerospace and defense is Oklahoma’s second largest and fastest growing industry. More than 1,100 aerospace entities have operations in Oklahoma. These include Tinker Air Force Base and the American Airlines Maintenance and Engineering Center in Tulsa—the two largest maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) facilities in the world.
Oklahoma companies and partners that attended the Paris Air Show with Commerce include:
- Companies:
- Acorn Capital Management
- Kratos CymSTAR
- MST Manufacturing
- AeroCore Group
- Baskins Machined Products
- Wilder Systems
- Tubacex
- WHI
- Consolidated Turbine Specialists
- Nomad
Community Partners:
- Oklahoma Department of Aerospace & Aeronautics
- Greater Oklahoma City Chamber
- Broken Arrow Economic Development Corporation
- Tulsa Airports Improvement Trust
- Rose State College
- Southwestern Oklahoma State University
- Oklahoma Space Industry Development Authority
- OSU Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education
- Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance
- Tulsa Regional Chamber
- Oklahoma City Will Rogers International Airport