Among the many industries in the diverse and thriving technology ecosystem of Arizona, aerospace and defense is the most tenured, stable and successful. During WWII, Arizona began establishing military bases and they are now spread throughout the state. In fact, the government owns more land than the private sector in Arizona and U.S. military bases contribute more than $11 billion annually to the state’s economy, according to the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA).
Not surprisingly, Arizona’s growth in the aerospace and defense sector coincided with the growth of the state’s military bases. It all began largely because of Arizona’s immaculate weather and clear skies year-round, making it a perfect place for military training and equipment testing. As the military established facilities here, the big defense prime contractors also moved to Arizona to be close to the…
