Home to some of the world's largest aerospace and defense companies, innovative startups, and next-generation technologies and manufacturing, Arizona is at the forefront of the aerospace & defense industry. With more than 300 days of sunshine annually, a longstanding commitment to supporting the U.S. military and a business-friendly environment, top companies come to Arizona to develop advanced solutions and drive innovation.
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Concentration for Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing
Lightcast, 2025
Largest Production Occupations Job Growth
Lightcast, 2025
Largest Guided Missile & Space Vehicle Manufacturing Employment
Lightcast, 2025
Aerospace Manufacturing
Business Facilities, 2025
Largest A&D Manufacturing Employment
Lightcast, 2025
Concentration for Aerospace & Defense Manufacturing
Lightcast, 2025
Department of Defense
Contracts
in Fiscal Year 2025
Optics industry
The Arizona Commerce Authority, in partnership with the Southwest Mission Acceleration Center (SW MAC) announced the launch the Arizona Office of Defense Innovation (ODI), a new public-private partnership that will expand Arizona's aerospace and defense leadership. The strategic initiative will advance emerging dual-use technology and support the growth of Department of Defense (DoD) missions within the state.
Arizona's been great to work with on the practical stuff like permitting, workforce, getting energy connected to the building -- all the basic things that are harder to do in some states. We're really happy to expand into Arizona.
Chris Power, Founder and CEO
Hadrian
Arizona is proud to provide a platform for innovation powerhouses like Hadrian to grow and thrive. The advanced manufacturer announced plans to establish a 270,000-square-foot large-scale AI-powered manufacturing and software hub, representing a $200 million investment. Arizona’s top talent, commitment to keeping taxes low and regulation light, and strategic geographic location have earned the state a reputation as a leading hub for advanced manufacturing.
PHOENIX, AZ (May 5, 2026) – Small businesses play a foundational role in supporting Arizona’s economy. This week, the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) is proud to celebrate Arizona’s small businesses and entrepreneurs as part of National Small Business Week 2026, taking place through May 9. Arizona is home to more than 706,000 small businesses that employ 1.2 million people, representing 99.5% of Arizona businesses according to the U.S. Small Business Administration. Supporting business creation and entrepreneurship is part of the ACA’s core mission. The ACA offers a comprehensive suite of programs and resources to help small businesses launch, scale and thrive.
READ MORE about ACA Celebrates Arizona Entrepreneurs For National Small Business Week »PHOENIX, AZ (May 4, 2026) – Building on strong economic momentum and record levels of international activity and investment, Arizona celebrated the opening of the Taiwan Trade and Investment Service Center in Phoenix on Friday, May 1, which will serve as a platform to increase collaboration, trade and foreign direct investment opportunities between Arizona and Taiwan. On April 30-May 1, the ACA hosted the Arizona AI & Semiconductor Global Forum, supported by SelectUSA. The forum brought together Arizona partners and a delegation of over 100 business, government, academia, and community leaders from around the world to learn about Arizona’s advantages and explore investment opportunities ahead of the SelectUSA Investment Summit on May 3-6.
READ MORE about Arizona Showcases AI & Semiconductor Leadership and Celebrates New Taiwan Trade & Investment Center »