Home to some of the world's largest aerospace and defense companies, innovative startups, and next-generation technologies and manufacturing, Arizona is at the forefront of the aerospace & defense industry. With more than 300 days of sunshine annually, a longstanding commitment to supporting the U.S. military and a business-friendly environment, top companies come to Arizona to develop advanced solutions and drive innovation.
AND MANY MORE
Concentration for Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing
Lightcast, 2024
Largest Optics & Photonics Manufacturing Job Growth
Lightcast, 2024
Largest Guided Missile & Space Vehicle Manufacturing Employment
Lightcast, 2024
Aerospace Manufacturing Attractiveness
PwC, 2025
Largest A&D Manufacturing Employment
Lightcast, 2024
Concentration for Aerospace & Defense Manufacturing
Lightcast, 2024
Department of Defense
Contracts
in Fiscal Year 2023
Optics industry
The Arizona Commerce Authority, in partnership with the Southwest Mission Acceleration Center (SW MAC) announced the launch the Arizona Office of Defense Innovation (ODI), a new public-private partnership that will expand Arizona's aerospace and defense leadership. The strategic initiative will advance emerging dual-use technology and support the growth of Department of Defense (DoD) missions within the state.
Arizona's been great to work with on the practical stuff like permitting, workforce, getting energy connected to the building -- all the basic things that are harder to do in some states. We're really happy to expand into Arizona.
Chris Power, Founder and CEO
Hadrian
Arizona is proud to provide a platform for innovation powerhouses like Hadrian to grow and thrive. The advanced manufacturer announced plans to establish a 270,000-square-foot large-scale AI-powered manufacturing and software hub, representing a $200 million investment. Arizona’s top talent, commitment to keeping taxes low and regulation light, and strategic geographic location have earned the state a reputation as a leading hub for advanced manufacturing.
MESA, AZ (January 12, 2026) – KoMiCo, a global leader in precision cleaning and advanced coatings in the semiconductor industry, today celebrated the opening of its new state-of-the-art facility for advanced semiconductor equipment parts cleaning, coating, and repair in Mesa, Arizona. The facility will initially create 50 jobs, with over 200 total new jobs created over the next several years. The 125,000-square-foot facility includes multiple cleanrooms, a wide range of cutting edge equipment, and a robust suite of diagnostic tools. Representing an over $60 million capital investment, the Mesa facility marks KoMiCo’s third location in the U.S. and 10th location globally.
READ MORE about KoMiCo Celebrates Opening Of Semiconductor Equipment Cleaning and Coating Facility In Mesa »MESA, AZ (January 8, 2026) – Gifthealth, a unified digital pharmacy platform, today celebrated the grand opening of its state-of-the-art pharmacy located in Mesa, Arizona. The new pharmacy represents a significant milestone, marking Gifthealth’s expansion into the Southwest. The 43,000-square-foot facility will support up to 200 new, highly-skilled jobs. The Mesa Gifthealth pharmacy will incorporate state-of-the-art robotic assisted processing of up to 28,000 medications per day. Gifthealth will partner with UPS and utilize a new RFID scanning and twin packaging technology that will allow medications to be delivered faster, more accurately and tracked in real time to patients nationwide.
READ MORE about Gifthealth Celebrates Grand Opening Of New Pharmacy In Mesa »