The aerospace and defense industry is a crucial component of Colorado's technology economy. Also, because of Colorado’s geographical location, it provides one-bounce satellite communications to Europe and Asia, and because of our Mountain time zone Colorado companies can efficiently conduct business with both continents during the same business day.

Colorado has approximately 26,860 private-sector aerospace and defense workers in nearly 130 companies that develop products from launch vehicles and satellites to command and control software, sensors, and navigation equipment. If you add suppliers and related businesses, Colorado has 176,930 workers in more than 300 businesses statewide according to the Colorado Space Coalition. In fact, aerospace and defense employment grew 25.7 percent in the state from 2003 to 2008; the national growth for the same period was 11.5 percent. 

Colorado ranks first in the nation for its 2008 concentration of private-sector aerospace employment (26,860). The 2007 average salary for an aerospace and defense worker is $102,030 ($84,230 nationwide). There are 31,050 military personnel located within the state for a total of 57,910 direct jobs in the state with a $2.7 billion annual payroll and billions of dollars in annual revenue.

Aurora is a major driver in the aerospace industry in Colorado - more than one-third of Colorado's direct aerospace jobs are located in Aurora with approximately 18,000 employees.  Aurora's Buckley Air Force Base economic impact on the region is more than $1 billion annually. Buckley continues to be the fastest growing Air Force base in the nation. 

Raytheon Company, Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin and The Boeing Company all have major operations in Aurora. In fact, Raytheon is the city’s largest private employer with more than 2,400 employees. 

Raytheon's NPOESS Project