Editor’s Note: This paid article was written by Kansas Department of Commerce and approved by Area Development for publication.
Speed to market, access to test environments, workforce readiness, and supply chain reliability increasingly determine where projects land. Kansas offers a fully integrated platform that reduces friction across each of those variables.
Home to Wichita — long recognized as the Air Capital of the World — Kansas anchors one of the most concentrated aerospace clusters in the United States, with 34,000+ direct aerospace jobs, more than 65,000 total jobs supported, and over $24 billion in annual economic output.
Aerospace products account for more than 20% of the state’s exports, reinforcing Kansas’ role as a global production hub.
Execution Speed Built into the Ecosystem
Kansas enables companies to move from concept to deployment without leaving the state.
Kansas enables companies to move from concept to deployment without leaving the state.
OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, and engineering firms operate alongside research institutions and workforce partners in a tightly connected environment. This proximity reduces handoffs, shortens development timelines, and simplifies scaling. Major employers such as Boeing, Bombardier and Textron Aviation anchor a mature supply chain, allowing companies to plug into existing production capacity rather than build from scratch.
The Kansas Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Roadmap aligns public and private partners around a single objective: accelerate commercialization of emerging aerospace technologies by removing barriers between R&D, testing and production.
Workforce That is Already Industry-Aligned
Kansas’ talent pipeline is connected directly to aerospace employers and real-world applications, with average industry wages nearing $70,000 annually. Three of the state’s public research universities prepare students for post-graduation success in this sector:
$24B
- Wichita State University and the National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) — the largest university-based aviation R&D center in the U.S. — support certification, testing, and advanced manufacturing for commercial and defense programs.
- University of Kansas provides advanced engineering and unmanned systems research.
- Kansas State University delivers applied training across pilot programs, UAS operations, and aeronautics.
Airspace and Testing Access That Reduces Time and Risk
One of the most significant constraints in aerospace development is access to airspace for testing and validation. Kansas offers:
This proximity reduces handoffs, shortens development timelines and simplifies scaling.
- The Kansas Supersonic Transportation Corridor spans 770 nautical miles of FAA-authorized airspace and supports testing up to Mach 3 speeds.
- As a lead participant in the FAA BEYOND program — one of only eight nationwide — Kansas enables large-scale UAS testing across diverse and uncongested environments.
For companies developing AAM, UAS or advanced propulsion systems, this translates directly into faster iteration cycles and fewer regulatory delays.
Integrated Defense and Commercial Opportunities
Kansas’ military presence — including McConnell Air Force Base, Fort Riley and Fort Leavenworth — creates opportunities for collaboration, testing and workforce transition.
In 2024, Kansas-based companies secured $1.6 billion in defense contracts, contributing to more than $4 billion in total federal defense spending statewide, supporting a stable and experienced supplier base with both commercial and defense capabilities.
Kansas offers a clear advantage: an established aerospace environment built for execution.
Supply Chain Depth and Manufacturing Capacity
Kansas’ aerospace supply chain spans advanced materials, composites, avionics, aerostructures and precision manufacturing — one of the most complete general aviation ecosystems in the world.
Companies locating in Kansas gain immediate access to this established network, reducing ramp timelines, lowering capital requirements, and improving operational certainty.
Where Aerospace Projects Get Done
For companies looking to move quickly, test efficiently, and scale with confidence, Kansas offers a clear advantage: an established aerospace environment built for execution.
Learn more at kansascommerce.gov.
