Defense Contractor Kratos Announces Plan to Add 76 Jobs at its
Birmingham Advanced Concepts Engineering Facility
San Diego Based Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc.
(NASDAQ: KTOS), a leading National Security Solutions provider
announced plans today to expand its newly established business unit
in Birmingham, Alabama. With the support of critical enhancement
programs provided by the State of Alabama, Jefferson County and the
City of Birmingham, Kratos expects to add 76 jobs and make
approximately $8.6 million in capital investments in its Birmingham
facility over the next five years.
Kratos acquired the engineering division of
Birmingham-based Southern Research in an $80 million asset
transaction in May. The acquisition establishes Kratos SRE, an
advanced concept group within Kratos’ Defense & Rocket Support
Services (KDRSS) Division. SRE currently employs about 140
engineers, technicians and program support professionals conducting
work in support of the space community, the Department of Defense
and other national security customers.
The Kratos SRE Birmingham growth plan is part of
the company’s overall strategy to expand leading-edge technology
capabilities in areas specifically related to hypersonics. The new
positions, with an average annual salary of $95,000, will be a
mixture of engineers, technicians and support staff.
“We appreciate the support that Kratos has
received from the State of Alabama and the Birmingham local
government,” said Dave Carter, President of KDRSS. “Training grants
and other key incentives allow us to accelerate our capabilities
expansion and enhance the already impressive workforce at Kratos
SRE. The Birmingham advanced concepts business unit is a key
enabler to expanding Kratos’ leadership in hypersonics and other
technology areas.”
The growth plans for Kratos’ Birmingham advanced
concepts business unit were announced in conjunction with the 2022
Farnborough International Airshow, held just outside of London.
Company representatives met with the Alabama team today at the
“Made in Alabama” booth on the opening day of the high-profile
trade event.
“Over many decades, the talented workforce in
the Southern Research Engineering Division has made many important
contributions to the nation’s space program and critical national
defense programs,” said Greg Canfield, Secretary of the Alabama
Department of Commerce. “I look forward to seeing the Birmingham
Kratos SRE business unit continue their record of amazing
accomplishments as Kratos makes investments in advanced concepts
and expands their technical capabilities.”
Kratos plans to continue enhancing SRE’s
industry-leading expertise in the testing and evaluation of how
advanced materials behave in extreme environments to ensure the
nation’s industrial base is prepared to address the unique
challenges associated with space, hypersonics, missiles, propulsion
systems and more.
Kratos SRE also specializes in intelligence
surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) sensor development,
electromechanical systems design, aerospace engineering and other
technical disciplines.
“Kratos is the perfect home for my engineering
team. From hypersonics to ISR applications, Kratos brings
tremendous synergies across all of our technical platforms,” said
Michael Johns, former Southern Research Engineering Division Vice
President and now Kratos SRE Senior Vice President. “We have long
been the leader in understanding materials in extreme environments
for applications, including hypersonics, but now as part of Kratos,
we are able to support programs all the way through flight test and
beyond, substantially increasing our total addressable market
opportunity.”
Local officials welcomed Kratos’ expansion plans
at the Birmingham facility.
“As Birmingham and Jefferson County continues to
expand its aerospace and defense industry footprint, we welcome
Kratos and its plans for new jobs and investment,” Jefferson County
Commissioner Steve Ammons said. “Southern Research’s Engineering
Division was a powerful leader in defense and strategic deterrence
system development, and we will continue to support Kratos in its
new and innovative solutions.”
Emily Jerkins Hall, President and Chief
Operating Officer of the Birmingham Business Alliance, said the
organization is grateful that Kratos not only committed to staying
in the city but also to growing there.
“Our team enjoyed working with Southern Research
and the project team to help Kratos establish and scale their
operations here,” she said. “Their investment in our community will
continue to make the Greater Birmingham Region an attractive
destination for top engineering talent from around the globe.”
About Kratos Defense & Security
SolutionsKratos Defense & Security Solutions,
Inc. (NASDAQ: KTOS) develops and fields transformative,
affordable technology, platforms, and systems for United States
National Security related customers, allies, and commercial
enterprises. Kratos is changing the way breakthrough technology for
these industries are rapidly brought to market through proven
commercial and venture capital backed approaches, including
proactive research and streamlined development processes. At
Kratos, affordability is a technology, and we specialize in
unmanned systems, satellite communications, cyber security/warfare,
microwave electronics, missile defense, hypersonic systems,
training, combat systems and next generation turbo jet and turbo
fan engine development. For more information, go
to www.KratosDefense.com.
About the Department of
Commerce The Alabama Department of Commerce is the state’s
lead economic development agency, working with economic development
allies throughout the state to fulfill the objectives of Accelerate
Alabama, the state’s strategic economic development growth plan. In
addition to its business development activities, Commerce divisions
promote exporting and international investment opportunities for
Alabama businesses, assist small businesses, and position the state
as a location for film and television productions. Commerce is home
to the state’s primary non-education workforce development
programs, including AIDT, a nationally known job-training
agency.
Notice Regarding Forward-Looking
StatementsCertain statements in this press release may
constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These
forward-looking statements are made on the basis of the current
beliefs, expectations, and assumptions of the management of Kratos
and are subject to significant risks and uncertainty. Investors are
cautioned not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking
statements. All such forward-looking statements speak only as of
the date they are made, and Kratos undertakes no obligation to
update or revise these statements, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise. Although Kratos believes
that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements
are reasonable, these statements involve many risks and
uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially
from what may be expressed or implied in these forward-looking
statements. For a further discussion of risks and uncertainties
that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed in
these forward-looking statements, as well as risks relating to the
business of Kratos in general, see the risk disclosures in the
Annual Report on Form 10-K of Kratos for the year ended December
30, 2020, and in subsequent reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K and other
filings made with the SEC by Kratos.
Press Contact:Yolanda
White858-812-7302 Direct
Investor
Information:877-934-4687investor@kratosdefense.com
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