Today, Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc. [NYSE: SPR] held a
grand opening event and ribbon cutting ceremony for its National
Defense Prototype Center (NDPC), a joint project with Wichita State
University’s National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR). This
new research center will significantly expand Spirit’s capabilities
and production efficiencies in the defense and space market.
“NIAR has been a tremendous partner in the development of the
National Defense Prototype Center and enabling Wichita as a center
for defense growth,” said Duane Hawkins, Spirit AeroSystems
executive vice president; president, Defense and Space. ”The NDPC
provides a secure space for high temperature materials testing, as
well as development, prototyping and industrialization capabilities
to support Spirit’s growth strategy targeting $1 billion of defense
revenue by the mid-2020s.”
The research center comes soon after Kansas earned its
designation as one of 11 Defense Manufacturing Communities by the
Department of Defense (DoD). The Defense Manufacturing Community
Support Program will encourage long-term community investments to
strengthen national security innovation and expand the capabilities
of the defense manufacturing industrial ecosystem.
“The National Defense Prototype Center will improve research and
development efforts of advanced materials and place Wichita at the
center of future defense and space programs,” said Senator Jerry
Moran (R-Kan). “These programs, especially the advancement of
hypersonic missiles, will rely on National Defense Prototype Center
as the United States competes with foreign powers to defend our
homeland.”
The National Defense Prototype Center encompasses more than
125,000 square feet of manufacturing and lab space with processing
and characterization capabilities, including high temperature
testing, furnaces for fabricating and processing materials,
multi-method non-destructive inspection, robotic automated fiber
placement technology and a large autoclave. The center promotes the
capacity to sustain broader and maximum throughput capabilities to
support a high-priority national defense program.
“The more knowledge that can be generated and disseminated about
high temperature materials, the more these materials can be used,
optimized, and designed for specific objectives,” said John
Tomblin, Wichita State’s senior vice president for Industry &
Defense Programs and NIAR executive director. “This leads to
reliable and safe products that enable the industry to go further,
push faster, and break through current design limitations. Not only
is this a first for the state of Kansas, but for the nation in
terms of testing capacity at these temperatures.”
The research center is the first of its kind with the ability to
attract new aviation, defense, and space programs with a focus on
high-temperature materials, such as hypersonic missiles, that can
withstand temperatures of 2,500-5,000°F. The NDPC offers
distinctive capabilities and research technology that will spur the
development of new high temperature materials and ultra-competitive
composites.
To learn more about the National Defense Prototype Center, click
here for the NDPC video.
On the web: www.spiritaero.com On Twitter: @SpiritAero
About Spirit AeroSystems Inc.
Spirit AeroSystems is one of the world’s largest manufacturers
of aerostructures for commercial airplanes, defense platforms, and
business/regional jets. With expertise in aluminum and advanced
composite manufacturing solutions, the company’s core products
include fuselages, integrated wings and wing components, pylons,
and nacelles. We are leveraging decades of design and manufacturing
expertise to be the most innovative and reliable supplier of
military aerostructures, and specialty high-temperature materials,
enabling warfighters to execute complex, critical missions. Spirit
also serves the aftermarket for commercial and business/regional
jets. Headquartered in Wichita, Kansas, Spirit has facilities in
the U.S., U.K., France, Malaysia and Morocco. More information is
available at www.spiritaero.com.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking
Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" that
may involve many risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking
statements generally can be identified by the use of
forward-looking terminology such as "aim," "anticipate," "believe,"
"could," "continue," "estimate," "expect," "goal," "forecast,"
"intend," "may," "might," "objective," "outlook," "plan,"
"predict," "project," "should," "target," "will," "would," and
other similar words, or phrases, or the negative thereof, unless
the context requires otherwise. These statements reflect
management's current views with respect to future events and are
subject to risks and uncertainties, both known and unknown. Our
actual results may vary materially from those anticipated in
forward-looking statements. We caution investors not to place undue
reliance on any forward-looking statements. Important factors that
could cause actual results to differ materially from those
reflected in such forward-looking statements and that should be
considered in evaluating our outlook include, without limitation,
the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business and operations;
the timing and conditions surrounding the full worldwide return to
service (including receiving the remaining regulatory approvals) of
the B737 MAX, future demand for the aircraft, and any residual
impacts of the B737 MAX grounding on production rates for the
aircraft; our reliance on Boeing for a significant portion of our
revenues; our ability to execute our growth strategy, including our
ability to complete and integrate acquisitions; our ability to
accurately estimate and manage performance, cost, and revenue under
our contracts; demand for our products and services and the effect
of economic or geopolitical conditions in the industries and
markets in which we operate in the U.S. and globally; our ability
to manage our liquidity, borrow additional funds or refinance debt;
and other factors disclosed in our filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. These factors are not exhaustive and it is not
possible for us to predict all factors that could cause actual
results to differ materially from those reflected in our
forward-looking statements. These factors speak only as of the date
hereof, and new factors may emerge or changes to the foregoing
factors may occur that could impact our business. Except to the
extent required by law, we undertake no obligation to, and
expressly disclaim any obligation to, publicly update or revise any
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,
future events, or otherwise.
View source
version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211015005552/en/
Media: Molly Edwards (316) 523-2479
molly.e.edwards@spiritaero.com
Spirit Aerosystems (NYSE:SPR)
Historical Stock Chart
Von Jun 2024 bis Jul 2024
Spirit Aerosystems (NYSE:SPR)
Historical Stock Chart
Von Jul 2023 bis Jul 2024