Boeing breaks ground on new expansion plans in Huntsville

Boeing
Gov. Kay Ivey was on hand to break ground for the Boeing expansion in Huntsville Monday. (Office of Gov. Kay Ivey)

Boeing broke ground Monday on an expansion of its Huntsville operations, a project that will add a 35,000-square-foot addition to the facility that produces the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 seeker missile.

This expansion would increase annual PAC-3 seeker production by more than 30 percent at the Boeing Huntsville facility.

The Advanced Patriot Missile Seeker

Boeing
The seeker provides guidance data to the PAC-3 interceptor used by the Patriot surface-to-air defense system. (Boeing Co.)

The seeker provides guidance data to the PAC-3 interceptor used by the Patriot surface-to-air defense system, enabling it to identify, track and intercept advanced air and missile threats. The company recently delivered the 5,000th PAC-3 seeker.

“The PAC-3 seeker is a critical air and missile defense capability, and this site expansion will allow us to significantly ramp up production to support the U.S. military, allies and international partners who rely on it. Our proven seeker enables the life-saving precision accuracy of the Patriot system. I can’t overstate the importance of our team’s work in Huntsville and the mission we support.”

Debbie Barnett, vice president of Strategic Missile & Defense Systems and Boeing Huntsville site leader

Boeing in Huntsville

boeing
The 35,000-square foot expanded facility is expected to be operational in early 2027. (Boeing Co.)

Since 2010, Boeing has invested more than $100 million to improve its Huntsville facilities in support of the PAC-3 program. The company has produced and sustained PAC-3 seekers as a subcontractor to Lockheed Martin for more than 20 years.

Since 2021, Boeing has been awarded more than $2 billion in contracts for seeker production, and for developing a next-generation seeker that is digitally-engineered to ensure effectiveness against evolving threats.

The expanded facility is expected to be operational in early 2027.

Earlier this year, Boeing opened a 9,000-square-foot expansion of the Huntsville Electronics Center of Excellence — a state-of-the-art facility that produces essential hardware for PAC-3 seekers and other systems.

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Michael Seale
Michael Seale
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