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| PART II: AEROSPACE OVERVIEW |
In this section:
Infrastructure Key aerospace activities/centers Convergence Incentives Workforce |
| South Mississippi aerospace |
...Unmanned aerial vehicles,
rocket and jet engines,
composites, remote sensors
and satellites; those are
some of the words that
describe the Mississippi
Gulf Coast’s aerospace
footprint.
...An aerospace trade
publication in 2004 called
Mississippi the world’s
newest UAV capital. More
recently, an aerospace
company CEO praised the
area, noting nobody should
be surprised companies are
interested in investing in the
region.
...South Mississippi,
centrally located along the
Gulf Coast, is home to
major aerospace players like
Lockheed Martin, Pratt &
Whitney and Northrop
rocket and jet engines,
composites, remote sensors
and satellites; those are
some of the words that
describe the Mississippi
Gulf Coast’s aerospace
footprint.
...An aerospace trade
publication in 2004 called
Mississippi the world’s
newest UAV capital. More
recently, an aerospace
company CEO praised the
area, noting nobody should
be surprised companies are
interested in investing in the
region.
...South Mississippi,
centrally located along the
Gulf Coast, is home to
major aerospace players like
Lockheed Martin, Pratt &
Whitney and Northrop
| Infrastructure |
...South Mississippi's aerospace
infrastructure includes federal and
university research units that focus
on propulsion, remote sensing,
visualization and scientific
computing. It also has aerospace
parks, military aviation bases,
technology transfer offices and test
ranges.
...While Hurricane Katrina caused
considerable damage to coastal
areas, South Mississippi looked at it
as an opportunity.
infrastructure includes federal and
university research units that focus
on propulsion, remote sensing,
visualization and scientific
computing. It also has aerospace
parks, military aviation bases,
technology transfer offices and test
ranges.
...While Hurricane Katrina caused
considerable damage to coastal
areas, South Mississippi looked at it
as an opportunity.
The Center for Higher Learning Visualization Lab
is designed to fulfill visualization needs of
researchers in chemistry, physics, math and other
fields. CHL photo
is designed to fulfill visualization needs of
researchers in chemistry, physics, math and other
fields. CHL photo
| Key aerospace centers/activities |
...Four fields of interest have
developed along the
Mississippi Gulf Coast:
unmanned aerial vehicles
(fixed-wing and rotary),
composites, propulsion and
geospatial (satellites, remote
sensing applications).
...UAV activities are found
in the eastern part of the
76-mile stretch of Interstate
10 in Jackson County's
developed along the
Mississippi Gulf Coast:
unmanned aerial vehicles
(fixed-wing and rotary),
composites, propulsion and
geospatial (satellites, remote
sensing applications).
...UAV activities are found
in the eastern part of the
76-mile stretch of Interstate
10 in Jackson County's
| Convergence |
...The products of the
aerospace industry represent
the sum of its parts, the
materials, sensors, the power
systems, the computers,
communication systems and
more. And it's also how
these products "mesh" with
the broader world. It boils
down to convergence:
putting the parts together in
a seamless whole and having
aerospace industry represent
the sum of its parts, the
materials, sensors, the power
systems, the computers,
communication systems and
more. And it's also how
these products "mesh" with
the broader world. It boils
down to convergence:
putting the parts together in
a seamless whole and having
it work well in real world applications.
...The importance of convergence is best illustrated by the defense industry. The
emerging theory of warfare is Network Centric Warfare, which uses advanced
information systems to tie the various elements of battle together in a coherent
package. The biggest names in the industry have mirrored this development by
acquiring interests in many of the elements that go into the broader whole, from
satellites to propulsion systems and from ships to land vehicles. Like the
aerospace industry, the Mississippi Gulf Coast has over time pulled together
many of the elements that go into the aerospace industry. And they're in high
growth areas as well.
Over the past couple of years, two things have occurred just outside South
Mississippi that promise to increase its footprint. EADS' decision the place an
aircraft plant in Mobile, Ala., and the subsequent Air Force decision to award
the aerial refueling tanker project to the Northrop Grumman/EADS team will
likely spill over into Mississippi.
On the opposite side of the region, NASA's decision to make Michoud
Assembly Facility in New Orleans a key manufacturing center for the next
generation of space vehicles also will likely spill into Mississippi. That activity
may well put South Mississippi in the catbird seat.
Next: (cont.) Overview
...The importance of convergence is best illustrated by the defense industry. The
emerging theory of warfare is Network Centric Warfare, which uses advanced
information systems to tie the various elements of battle together in a coherent
package. The biggest names in the industry have mirrored this development by
acquiring interests in many of the elements that go into the broader whole, from
satellites to propulsion systems and from ships to land vehicles. Like the
aerospace industry, the Mississippi Gulf Coast has over time pulled together
many of the elements that go into the aerospace industry. And they're in high
growth areas as well.
Over the past couple of years, two things have occurred just outside South
Mississippi that promise to increase its footprint. EADS' decision the place an
aircraft plant in Mobile, Ala., and the subsequent Air Force decision to award
the aerial refueling tanker project to the Northrop Grumman/EADS team will
likely spill over into Mississippi.
On the opposite side of the region, NASA's decision to make Michoud
Assembly Facility in New Orleans a key manufacturing center for the next
generation of space vehicles also will likely spill into Mississippi. That activity
may well put South Mississippi in the catbird seat.
Next: (cont.) Overview
Casinos and high-rise condos are both returning. Areas along the coastline are
building to higher standards and using some of the latest thinking in urban
planning. Along Interstate 10 several projects are under way to create sci-tech
communities with multi-disciplinary research, schools, university offices and
residential housing built around walkable town centers. It's become a laboratory
in many respects. Indeed, it is where the future comes together.
building to higher standards and using some of the latest thinking in urban
planning. Along Interstate 10 several projects are under way to create sci-tech
communities with multi-disciplinary research, schools, university offices and
residential housing built around walkable town centers. It's become a laboratory
in many respects. Indeed, it is where the future comes together.
Geospatial
Engines
Testing
Satellites
Engines
Testing
Satellites
Trent Lott Aviation Technology Park at Moss Point. Not far away is work in
defense communications/electronics and optics at Sunplex Light Industrial Park.
The Moss Point Industrial and Technology Park is also a key site.
...Work in the field of composites can be found at Gulfport's Bernard Bayou
Industrial District in Harrison County, while other advanced material production
is in Hancock County's Port Bienville Industrial Park.
...Propulsion and geospatial activities are clustered in and around NASA's John
C. Stennis Space Center. Stennis is where engines for the space program are
tested, but it's also a center for geospatial work, including the building of
satellites and satellite components. The expertise gained over the years led to the
establishment of a joint geospatial research center just outside Stennis at the
Stennis International Airport/Airpark, and Stennis Technology Park.
...The Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport is also a key aerospace facility. It's in
the midst of a major expansion that includes the creation of the General Aviation
Office and Light Industrial Park. Fly-through
defense communications/electronics and optics at Sunplex Light Industrial Park.
The Moss Point Industrial and Technology Park is also a key site.
...Work in the field of composites can be found at Gulfport's Bernard Bayou
Industrial District in Harrison County, while other advanced material production
is in Hancock County's Port Bienville Industrial Park.
...Propulsion and geospatial activities are clustered in and around NASA's John
C. Stennis Space Center. Stennis is where engines for the space program are
tested, but it's also a center for geospatial work, including the building of
satellites and satellite components. The expertise gained over the years led to the
establishment of a joint geospatial research center just outside Stennis at the
Stennis International Airport/Airpark, and Stennis Technology Park.
...The Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport is also a key aerospace facility. It's in
the midst of a major expansion that includes the creation of the General Aviation
Office and Light Industrial Park. Fly-through
Mississippi
Gulf Coast
capabilities
Gulf Coast
capabilities
| Test ranges |
| Armor systems |
| Ships |
Gulf of Mexico
Test ranges
Test ranges
| Ships |
Advanced
materials
materials
Three key centers
| Electronics |
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| Mississippi Gulf Coast aerospace snapshot |
| Composites |
| Geospatial |
| Propulsion |
| Unmanned aerial vehicles |
| Primary aerospace capabilities |
| BAE Systems |
| Lockheed Martin |
| Northrop Grumman |
| Pratt & Whitney |
| Rolls-Royce |
| Major aerospace companies |
| Center of Higher Learning |
| Enterprise for Innovative Geospatial Solutions |
| Joint Airborne Lidar Bathymetry Technical Center of Expertise |
| SSC Engineering and Science Directorate, Science and Technology Division |
| Aerospace research |
| Gulf Coast Business Technology Center |
| Mississippi Enterprise for Technology |
| NASA Technology Transfer Office |
| Noetic Technologies |
| Technology transfer and business incubators |
| Aerospace Technology Park |
| Aviation Technology Park |
| General Aviation Office and Light Industrial Park |
| Mississippi Army Ammunition Plant Complex |
| Stennis International Airport |
| Stennis Technology Park |
| Sunplex Light Industrial Park |
| Aerospace parks |
| SSC Engineering and Science Directorate, Propulsion Testing |
Grumman. It also has a host of specialized firm that work closely with large
defense contractors. Further, recent activities in the surrounding region promise
to benefit South Mississippi's aerospace activities.
...Aviation is, in fact, a target industry of the state.
defense contractors. Further, recent activities in the surrounding region promise
to benefit South Mississippi's aerospace activities.
...Aviation is, in fact, a target industry of the state.