Jul. 13—Quickstep, Australia's largest independent aerospace business, wants to build its first U.S. engineering and manufacturing facility in the Wichita area.
The company, which produces drones, missiles and commercial and military aircraft composites, chose the Wichita region after evaluating more than 20 possible locations across the U.S., it said in a Thursday news release.
" Wichita is a globally recognized center of excellence for aerospace technology. The location itself will offer significant business winning opportunities," Vice President Steve Osborne said.
The Wichita-area plant will initially focus on the commercial and defense drone markets with plans to expand into commercial and defense aerostructures and aviation electrification.
The roughly 25,000-square-foot facility is expected to become operational in 2024 and create 20 new jobs initially with the expectation of more to come.
A recruitment schedule will be released in the coming months along with an announcement about where the facility will be located, Emily Younger, public relations manager for the Greater Wichita Partnership, told The Eagle.
Quickstep, whose customers include Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, BAE Systems and Boeing, operates four facilities across Australia and has a representative office in Texas, according to its LinkedIn page.
"This is a great day for the Air Capital of the World," Mayor Brandon Whipple said in the release.
"We support the company's expansion and look forward to providing the talented workforce to continue Quickstep's commitment to quality products and innovation."
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