AN ECONOMY BUILT TO Take Man to the Moon

Orlando is at the center of an enormous cluster of top aerospace and defense companies. In fact, the seven largest industry firms on the Fortune 500 list all have operations in or near Orlando, including some of Florida’s biggest aerospace manufacturing operations.

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Known for the companies we keep

Long before it became the theme park capital of the world, Orlando’s top aerospace and defense companies were behind the planet’s ultimate thrill ride — flying to the moon. Since then, our region has remained the cornerstone of Florida’s aerospace industry and defense-related growth.

Blue Origin

Blue Origin is a U.S. privately funded aerospace manufacturer and sub-orbital spaceflight services company.

Company: Blue Origin

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Description: Blue Origin, LLC is an American privately funded aerospace manufacturer and sub-orbital spaceflight services company.

Kaman FUZING

Kaman is a U.S. aerospace company with an Orlando-based manufacturing facility.

Company: Kaman FUZING

Description: Kaman Corporation is an American aerospace company. Kaman Precision Products, a division of Kaman Corporation, has a manufacturing facility based in Orlando.

Lockheed Martin

Lockheed Martin operates its Missiles and Fire Control research and development and manufacturing as well as its Training and Logistics…

Company: Lockheed Martin

Industry: Aerospace

Company Size (Employees): 5000-10000

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Description: Lockheed Martin operates its Missiles and Fire Control research and development and manufacturing as well as its Training and Logistics Solutions facility focused on simulation-based training in the Orlando region.

Northrop Grumman

Northrop Grumman is a global aerospace and defense technology company.

Company: Northrop Grumman

Industry: Aviation, Aerospace and Defense

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Description: Northrop Grumman is a global aerospace and defense technology company.

Aerojet Rocketdyne

Aerojet Rocketdyne develops and manufactures advanced propulsion and energetics systems.

Company: Aerojet Rocketdyne

Industry: Aerospace

Company Size (Employees): 1000-5000

Description: Aerojet Rocketdyne is a world-class developer and manufacturer of advanced propulsion and energetics systems for customers including the U.S. Department of Defense, NASA and other agencies and companies, both in the United States and abroad.

Thales

Thales, a French multinational, designs and builds electrical systems for aerospace, defense, transportation, and security.

Company: Thales

Industry: Aviation, Aerospace and Defense

Company Size (Employees): 0-50

Description: Thales is a French multinational company that designs and builds electrical systems and provides services for the aerospace, defense, transportation and security markets.

L3Harris Technologies

L3Harris is a U.S. technology company, defense contractor, and information technology services provider.

Company: L3Harris Technologies

Industry: Aviation, Aerospace and Defense

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Description: L3Harris Technologies (L3Harris) is an American technology company, defense contractor and information technology services provider.

Leidos

Leidos is an American defense, aviation, information technology, and biomedical research company.

Company: Leidos

Industry: Aviation, Aerospace and Defense, Energy

Company Size (Employees): 500-1000

Description: Leidos is an American defense, aviation, information technology, and biomedical research company.

“We think Orlando is an ideal location to grow our footprint and employment base given the city’s diverse, strong talent pipeline, available and affordable land with room to grow, and low taxes….”

– Frank St. John

Chief Operating Officer, Lockheed Martin

It’s a smart world After All

Orlando is a major hub of Florida’s aerospace manufacturing operations, but our regional universities also offer specialized programs in aerospace and defense engineering and technology, helping to diversify Central Florida’s workforce.

https://erau.edu/

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Embry Riddle Aeronautical University offers bachelor’s, master’s and Ph.D. programs in aerospace engineering.

Aerospace Engineering

Major OPERATIONS

Orlando is at the center of an enormous cluster of top aerospace and defense companies driving the latest developments in engineering and technology.

Lockheed Martin

Lockheed Martin is one of the largest employers in the Orlando region. Its Orlando facility develops rotary and mission systems, while its Titusville facility supports deep-space exploration and next-generation launch systems.

Northrop Grumman

Leading global aerospace and defense technology company Northrop Grumman has locations in Orlando and Apopka. Northrop Grumman’s Orlando facilities work on military satellite systems and command, control, communications, computers and intelligence (C4I) systems.

A THRIVING ECOSYSTEM

Industry Assets

Proximity to the Space Coast and a history in simulation and defense supports a thriving cluster at the heart of the Florida aerospace industry.

https://www.spaceflorida.gov/

Space Florida

Space Florida provides aerospace companies with financing, infrastructure, and support to launch new innovations in the nation’s premier spaceport system.

Cape Canaveral Space Force Station

Cape Canaveral Space Force Station is a multi-sector space transportation complex that hosts the world’s most advanced launch and re-entry systems.

https://cfrp.org/

Central Florida Research Park

Central Florida Research Park is the 6th largest research park in the U.S. and offers a variety of office, flex and build-to-suit space for companies that want to work closely with UCF.

https://floridahightech.com/

Florida High Tech Corridor

Florida High Tech Corridor is a partnership between industry and educators from the University of South Florida, the University of Central Florida, and the University of Florida, focusing on growing high-tech industry.

https://fsi.ucf.edu/

Florida Space Institute

Florida Space Institute, located at UCF, supports space research, development, and education activities for member universities in Florida.

https://fsi.ucf.edu/exolith-lab/

Exolith® Lab

The Exolith® Lab is a space hardware testing and regolith research facility managed by the Florida Space Institute.

TEAM Orlando
https://teamorlando.org/

Team Orlando

Team Orlando is a unique, collaborative alliance of leading U.S. military organizations working in modeling, simulation and training in Orlando.

Learn more about our Featured Industrial Sites

Discover what the Orlando region has to offer your aerospace and defense business. Explore our nine featured market-ready land sites.

ORLANDO. Unbelievably real.

Additional Focus Areas

Connect with a Subject Matter Expert

Get in touch with Casey Evans, Vice President of Economic Development, for additional information including customized talent data and tailored space recommendations.

Call today: 407.902.2411

Lockheed Martin Modeling Simulation & Training

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