BAE Systems Austin Expansion Includes $150M Campus Development

AUSTIN, TX — BAE Systems — one of the world’s leading aerospace and defense technology companies — is expanding its Austin operations with a new, $150 million campus in Parmer Austin Business Park, officials announced on Tuesday.

The site will be able to house more than 1,400 employees, officials said in an advisory. They described the major development as a "...a strategic investment in the company’s facilities and workforce."

Dave Harrold, vice president and general manager of Countermeasure & Electromagnetic Attack Solutions at BAE Systems, expounded: "This expansion will continue our longstanding legacy of innovation in Austin, while also preparing us for our projected engineering and manufacturing growth,” he said in a prepared statement. “Austin is an ideal location to attract the talent we need to deliver the latest capabilities to our customers.”

When completed, BAE Systems’ new campus will be valued at approximately $150 million and will include engineering, manufacturing, laboratory, and office space to primarily support U.S. Department of Defense customers, officials said. BAE Systems is working with Karlin Real Estate on construction of its new 390,000-square-foot-facility slated to begin this year. Expected completion is scheduled in 2022, officials added.

The company’s plan includes the transition of its current operations to the new state-of-the-art facility, according to the advisory. Work at the site will consist of new programs and existing business, which primarily includes the design, development, and manufacturing of radio frequency and electro-optical/infrared countermeasure systems, officials added. The increased capacity will enable the company to continue to execute on its commitments to customers, while positioning it to address demand for key products within its Electronic Systems business, the advisory read.

The new facility is located near the U.S. Army’s Futures Command, as well as the Austin Capital Factory, which is central to the innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem in Austin. BAE Systems is a member of the Capital Factory’s Innovation Council and collaborates with startups and small businesses to accelerate the development of new defense technology for America’s military.

"BAE Systems’ Austin employees innovate for a wide range of programs in the areas of autonomy, cyber, sensor development and electronic warfare, and manufacture those leading-edge capabilities on the company’s factory floor," officials said.