Huntsville's Redwire to add 150 jobs in major aerospace expansion

Redwire Corp. and Huntsville are kicking off the Farnborough Air Show in London by announcing a big expansion back home.

Why it matters: Huntsville's strong aerospace resume is getting stronger, and making waves at one of the biggest industry events on the globe.

The latest: Aerospace and defense manufacturer Redwire, announced this morning that it will expand its Huntsville location on Jetplex Boulevard by 164,000 square feet, adding 150 new, high-skilled jobs.

• Those jobs will be in the company's manufacturing, integration and technical operations, per the announcement, with the expanded campus set to accelerate several of Redwire's production lines.

Zoom in: Those include its Stalker drone system, drone gimbal payloads, advanced energy solutions and space capabilities, the company said.

• Construction is expected to start late next year, and Redwire is receiving about $8.5 million in state and local economic development incentives, per the announcement.

What they're saying: Peter Cannito, Redwire chairman and CEO, said in the announcement that the expansion "reflects the momentum we're seeing across both Redwire Space and Defense Tech."

• "Huntsville is one of the fastest-growing technology hubs in the United States, uniquely positioned at the intersection of America's space and defense industries, which makes it the ideal location to expand our capabilities and strengthen America's industrial base."

Zoom out: The expansion "speaks to exactly what the Alabama team is promoting this week in Farnborough," said Alabama Secretary of Commerce Ellen McNair in the announcement.

• "Our state's ability to provide advanced manufacturers the skilled workforce, infrastructure and local support to not only launch their initial operations, but to help them expand with their successes."

Driving the news: Huntsville, and Alabama, is well-represented at Farnborough, where state lawmakers and aerospace, AI and defense companies are looking to gain even more ground.

• Two of those companies, Maximum Technology Corporation, and Zaden Technologies are based in Huntsville, and a third, SEA Wire and Cable, in Madison.