Oklahoma Aerospace Industry Set to Surpass Oil and Gas by 2030

A new study released on October 6, 2026, reveals that Oklahoma's aerospace and defense industry has not only recovered from past challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic and the Boeing 737 Max grounding but is now poised to surpass oil and gas as the state's top economic driver. The 2026 Aerospace and Defense Industry Economic Impact Study shows a significant economic impact of $52.5 billion, up from $43.7 billion in 2017. Employment in the sector has grown from 120,000 jobs in 2017 to 136,000 in 2026, with an additional 123,000 indirect and induced jobs generated through related industries.

Grayson Ardies, director of the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics, highlighted the industry's resilience despite setbacks. He noted that with continued support at state and federal levels, aerospace and defense are likely to expand even faster in the coming decade. Ardies predicted that aerospace and defense could overtake oil and gas as the state's top economic driver by the early 2030s, providing a more stable alternative to commodity-based industries.

The study, which cost nearly $1 million and was funded primarily by the Federal Aviation Administration, measured the combined impact of Oklahoma's 107 public-use airports, five major military installations, Infinity One Spaceport at Burns Flat, and off-airport aerospace and defense companies. Key industry leaders, including Gov. Kevin Stitt and former NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine, attended the release of the study at the Oklahoma History Center.

Oklahoma City's Tinker Air Force Base, the country's third-largest in terms of employment, is a major contributor to the state's economy. Defense contractors like Kratos Defense & Security Solutions and MyDefence are expanding their operations, while Boeing employs over 3,700 workers in central Oklahoma. Ardies emphasized Oklahoma's role as the 'MRO capital of the world,' highlighting the state's expertise in maintenance, repair, and overhaul services for both military and civilian aerospace.