St. Louis Will See Fighter Parts Facility to Support Super Hornets, Eagles

Boeing dotted all the I's and cross all the t's on a deal with GKN Aerospace St. Louis and its parent company, Melrose Industries, to "continue the manufacturing of critical components that support the U.S. government and its allies."

The deal immediately swaps over the St. Louis site's operations over to parts and equipment needed for the F/A-18 Super Hornet and F-15 Eagle programs, pivoting about 550 employees there to the employ of Boeing proper. The handover comes at an interesting time, since Boeing's commercial side is learning the lesson its military arm already seems to understand: It's nice having operations vertically integrated when quality is non-negotiable. Having everything under their direct control is a solid choice, especially since the Hornet and Eagle platforms continue to be surprisingly strong sellers despite being closer to fifty years old than to one. That's not to say they aren't great aircraft, but they aren't spring chickens, despite the fact the world hasn't managed to make better planes to hit the right price:performance ratio.

“Boeing is growing across the region with a healthy backlog of current programs while also seeking future opportunities,” said Steve Parker, Senior Vice President & Chief Operating Officer of Boeing Defense, Space & Security. “This agreement allows us to not only deliver for our customers, but also gives the highly skilled GKN workforce the opportunity to bring their immense talents to bear in support of the warfighter and the St. Louis defense and aerospace industry. This is a win-win-win for those employees, Boeing, and the broader Saint Louis community.”

FMI: www.boeing.com