Leaders of Spirit Aerosystems and Wichita State University held a ribbon-cutting on Friday to open a new facility that will help develop new materials for use in aviation, defense and space projects.
The National Defense Prototype Center will develop, test and industrialize high temperature materials for use in aircraft, hypersonic missiles and other projects.
Spirit’s Vice President for Advanced Development and Space Programs, Eric Hein, said the new center is a state-of-the-art lab facility where development work can be done on future defense and space programs. Hein said Spirit will work with WSU students and faculty at the National Institute for Aviation Research in developing and manufacturing new products.
Kansas Senator Jerry Moran took part in the ceremony, and he said the new facility will allow Wichita and Kansas to remain as the Air Capital of the World. He said it will also be one more step toward diversifying the Kansas economy and the Wichita aerospace economy. He said it will be important for U.S. national security to develop hypersonic technology to catch up with China and Russia.
Around 200 workers are expected to be involved in projects at the center.
