States Set Politics Aside To Pitch Aerospace Appeal

Almost half of the U.S. states are descending on the Farnborough International Airshow, vying for new customers, partners, and investors. The strong presence comes at a time when some see America’s position in the global aerospace sector as being in flux due to shifting geopolitical tectonic plates, prompted in part by the Trump administration’s propensity to disrupt established assumptions about trade and defense alliances.

However, exhibitors in the USA Partnership Pavilion are largely pressing a narrative of continuity, emphasizing the industrial ecosystems they say make their states ripe with opportunity for aerospace companies. The consensus among state officials interviewed by AIN ahead of the show is that there is little they can do to temper contentious federal government policies, such as tariffs, so their focus is on value propositions close to home.

At the heart of the Wright Brothers’ origin story, the JobsOhio economic development corporation is emphasizing how it believes aerospace ventures can quickly and affordably scale up in the state. CEO J.P. Nauseef pointed to companies including Sierra Nevada Corp., Joby Aviation, and Hartzell Propeller that have upgraded their presence in Ohio with expanded facilities and payrolls since the Paris Air Show in 2025.

Aircraft modification specialist Sierra Nevada is, Nauseef explained, “the first new company to bend aviation metal” in the state since World War II. He sees the company’s $100 million investment in Ohio as vindication of efforts to shape agreements around each company's specific needs.

Another example is Joby’s decision to acquire a second facility in the Dayton area after starting production of propeller blades for its eVTOL aircraft. Nauseef told AIN that Ohio hadn't been on Joby's shortlist at first, until a concerted pitch prompted a rethink. That relationship is now drawing kindred spirits to the National Advanced Air Mobility Center of Excellence.

Beyond Financial Incentives

“[Our approach] is more sophisticated than writing incentive checks, and every deal is unique to the client,” Nauseef explained. “They cover staff and resources such as power and water that we can curate. The more strategic the deal, the longer it takes to come to fruition.”

On Monday, JobsOhio is hosting a conference session called Vision to Velocity on advanced air mobility, with speakers including senior executives from Joby, Electra, and Eve, as well as FAA Deputy Administrator Chris Rocheleau. Another Farnborough show event on Tuesday will focus on efforts to boost U.S. defense production, featuring Linden Blue, the CEO of General Atomics’ Aeronautical Systems subsidiary, and GE Aerospace Defense & Systems president and CEO Amy Gowder.

North Carolina’s 400-strong roster of aerospace and defense firms already includes marquee names such as Boeing, Collins, Honeywell, GE, Pratt & Whitney, and Lockheed Martin. More recently, it has attracted JetZero, which plans to build its Z4 blended-wing-body airliner at Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro.

The state has also had success attracting international companies, including the Irish division of component maker Eaton, German ground support specialist Goldhofer, and Samsung’s battery business. According to North Carolina’s Economic Development Partnership, a strong array of universities and colleges boosts the availability of skilled personnel, while international airports and deep seaports are a logistical boon.

Farther west, the aerospace and defense sector is now Oklahoma’s fastest-growing industry. According to the state’s Aerospace Commerce Economic Services agency, it achieved a three-fold increase in new capital investment during 2025, attracting $450 million from 37 new or expanding businesses and netting 1,325 additional jobs. For example, Dawn Aerospace—with dual Dutch and New Zealand origins—has moved into the Oklahoma Air and Space Port with its Mk-II Aurora spaceplane program.

The Farnborough roll-call of states runs coast to coast and also includes the following: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Iowa, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia. Altogether, almost 150 individual companies occupy the stands organized by Kallman Worldwide, which runs the USA Partnership Pavilion.