BAE Starts $50M Expansion Project in Alabama; Paul Markwardt Quoted

BAE Systems has broken ground on a Huntsville, Ala., facility for the development and production of aircraft survivability and precision munition systems, Rocket City Now reported Monday.

The company first unveiled details of its $45.5M expansion project at Cummings Research Park in July.

Paul Markwardt, vice president and general manager of BAE’s electronic systems business, said the company will use half of space at the 83K-square-foot facility for manufacturing operations and the rest for research-and-development functions.

Markwardt added the project is intended to expand the firm’s presence in military programs, such as those involving the U.S. Missile Defense Agency and U.S. Army.

BAE expects the project to create 300 jobs in engineering, manufacturing, program management and business development.