Home to some of the world's largest aerospace and defense companies, innovative startups, and next-generation technologies and manufacturing, Arizona is at the forefront of the aerospace & defense industry. With more than 300 days of sunshine annually, a longstanding commitment to supporting the U.S. military and a business-friendly environment, top companies come to Arizona to develop advanced solutions and drive innovation.
Concentration for Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing
Lightcast, 2024
Largest Optics & Photonics Manufacturing Job Growth
Lightcast, 2024
Largest Largest Guided Missile & Space Vehicle Manufacturing Employment
Lightcast, 2024
Aerospace Manufacturing Attractiveness
PwC, 2025
Largest A&D Manufacturing Employment
Lightcast, 2024
Concentration for Aerospace & Defense Manufacturing
Lightcast, 2024
Department of Defense
Contracts
in Fiscal Year 2023
Optics industry
The Arizona Commerce Authority, in partnership with the Southwest Mission Acceleration Center (SW MAC) announced the launch the Arizona Office of Defense Innovation (ODI), a new public-private partnership that will expand Arizona's aerospace and defense leadership. The strategic initiative will advance emerging dual-use technology and support the growth of Department of Defense (DoD) missions within the state.
Arizona's been great to work with on the practical stuff like permitting, workforce, getting energy connected to the building -- all the basic things that are harder to do in some states. We're really happy to expand into Arizona.
Chris Power, Founder and CEO
Hadrian
Arizona is proud to provide a platform for innovation powerhouses like Hadrian to grow and thrive. The advanced manufacturer announced plans to establish a 270,000-square-foot large-scale AI-powered manufacturing and software hub, representing a $200 million investment. Arizona’s top talent, commitment to keeping taxes low and regulation light, and strategic geographic location have earned the state a reputation as a leading hub for advanced manufacturing.
PHOENIX, AZ (August 5, 2025) – With billions in new investment, a surge of startups and venture activity, and a deep pool of skilled talent, Arizona's innovation economy is scaling fast — and the world is taking notice. Today, Governor Hobbs and the Arizona Commerce Authority, in partnership with the Arizona Venture Alliance, announced Arizona Tech Week, the state’s first-ever decentralized tech conference. The event will take place in locations across the state from April 6th-12th, 2026. Arizona Tech Week will bring together tech luminaries, investors, founders, and startup leaders for a week of lively keynotes, panels, social networking engagements, pitch competitions, and exclusive Arizona experiences. The first-of-its-kind conference in Arizona will emphasize the state’s prominent role in the global tech ecosystem and provide an opportunity to showcase the state’s most compelling innovations and tech leaders.
READ MORE about Governor Hobbs Announces Arizona Tech Week 2026»PHOENIX, AZ (July 29, 2025) – The Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) today announced it is accepting applications for the Fall 2025 Arizona Innovation Challenge (AIC), one of the nation’s largest business plan competitions. This year, the Arizona Innovation Challenge will feature a Fall 2025 cohort and Spring 2026 cohort, with investments for the most promising companies taking place in partnership with investors and venture capitalists in Arizona. In addition, the ACA announced the Fall 2025 cohort will be focused on Software as a Service (SaaS) startups. The application window will run from Tuesday, July 29 to Monday, August 11. The AIC consists of three judging rounds where companies receive constructive feedback on their applications generated from the rigorous online evaluation and scoring process.
READ MORE about Arizona Commerce Authority Accepting Applications For 2025 Arizona Innovation Challenge»