What Does Boeing Do In Mesa, Arizona?

Last year, Boeing established a new Advanced Composite Fabrication Center in Mesa, Arizona. The aerospace giant built the new center to manufacture and process advanced components for next-generation combat aircraft. The company also aims to research and develop advanced materials for future aerospace projects.

The facility is in the heart of Falcon District, which is considered a high-tech hub for aerospace, defense, and advanced manufacturing processes. Some other aerospace companies stationed in the Falcon District are Northrop Grumman, Marsh Aviation, Nammo Defense Systems, and MD Helicopters.

A secure production facility

Boeing’s Defense, Space & Security (BDS) business division established a secure production facility in Mesa, Arizona. The facility will exclusively be operated by the proprietary research, development, and prototyping division of the BDS, Phantom Works.

Photo: Boeing

The 155,000-square-foot facility is sufficient for the company to produce digitally advanced components and systems for special mission aircraft. The President and CEO of the BDS, Ted Colbert, stated,

“Boeing pioneered a new era of digital aerospace engineering on programs like the T-7, MQ-25 and MQ-28, and now we’re leading the way again by digitally transforming our entire production system to build the next generation of advanced combat aircraft. The new Advanced Composite Fabrication Center and the factories that will follow it position Boeing to deliver the most digitally advanced, simply and efficiently produced and intelligently supported aircraft to military customers.”

Leveraging best practices

Phantom Works aims to leverage best practices and lessons learned from various advanced aircraft developed at Boeing in recent years. For example, the unmanned aerial refueler, the MQ-25 Stingray, is a revolutionary aircraft comprising proprietary composites required for advanced missions.

Still in its testing phase, the MQ-25’s development is essential for extending the combat range of existing Boeing’s F-18 Super Hornet and Lockheed Martin F-35 jets. According to Boeing,

“The MQ-25 brings the right combination of refueling, autonomy, and seamless carrier deck integration to meet the U.S. Navy’s goals.”

Boeing aims to provide a flexible digital system where modular production is conducted. This will ensure the highest efficiency while keeping production costs lower. Methods used in the new facility will support all future programs run by the BDS.

Photo: United States Air Force

The new Advanced Composite Fabrication Center will establish sustainable manufacturing techniques for modifiable and customizable methods for optimized efficiency across all programs. The Vice President and General Manager of Boeing Phantom Works, Steve Nordlund, explained,

“The ACFC capitalizes on the latest in digital engineering – from initial concept and design to the production floor and sustainment – and its capabilities are aligned directly with our customers’ need to design, build and field advanced combat aircraft on dramatically accelerated timelines. We are committed to a future where our platforms are more modular and adaptable, our software is more modifiable and scalable, and where our customers have a common experience across all of our products – providing disruptive advantages from seabed to space.”

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