Aerospace firm plans to bring operations, jobs to OKC area

The state of Oklahoma is entering into a partnership with Valkyrie Systems Aerospace, with plans for manufacturing facilities, flight operations and training to take place in Oklahoma City.

Valkyrie was recently awarded a 21st Century Quality Jobs Program incentive contract that will create 352 new highpaying local jobs within the next five years. Valkyrie CEO Glenn Dawson said the company expects to begin operations in Oklahoma later this year.

“Oklahoma already has some of the top aviation companies in the world, and they are starting to grow the unmanned arena as well,” Dawson said. “The state of Oklahoma is well on its way to become the leader in unmanned aerospace development and manufacturing.”

Valkyrie was founded with a mission to develop drones, called HoverJets, capable of use as medical evacuation aircraft in the field of battle, Valkyrie Managing Director Steve Tafoya said. The HoverJets are also intended for use in real-time situational awareness and threat detection, reestablishment of downed communications systems, firefighting and more. A vertical takeoff and landing design allows the HoverJets to operate on land, sea or air.

The Oklahoma operation is intended to move the project from its research and development phase into a manufacturing stage. While the drones are initially intended for military use, Tafoya said the hope of the company is to manufacture the machines for more localized and private use in the future.

The company is based in Nevada, with about 35 employees, Tafoya said. Oklahoma topped two other states in Valkyrie’s search for expansion based on the existing aerospace industry in the state.

“We looked at Texas and Nevada and they were offering different styles of incentives,” Tafoya said. “Texas has aerospace (industry), but it’s spread out awkwardly, and Nevada is still growing and trying to be where (Oklahoma) is at.”

The University of Oklahoma’s aviation and aerospace engineering program, as well as Oklahoma State University’s autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles program also factored into the decision to locate in Oklahoma.

While the job incentive contract allows for up to five years to reach the targeted job totals, Tafoya said the company hopes to meet that mark within two years. The company hopes to employ 200 to 300 people by this time next year, he said, with an average annual salary of about $72,000.

“We are proud to bring high-tech jobs to the greater Oklahoma City area,” Dawson said in a statement. “Valkyrie’s goal is to create and maintain partnerships with the higher education system in Oklahoma, all the while developing and retaining students with the goal of moving them into the aerospace workforce as supported by Valkyrie Systems Aerospace.”

Gov. Mary Fallin announced the partnership Tuesday, touting the Oklahoma workforce, low cost of doing business and quality of life as reasons the partnership came to fruition.

“Oklahoma is one of the world’s premier destinations for the aerospace and defense industry,” Fallin said. “The new Valkyrie facility will continue to elevate this industry in our state. By bringing aircraft manufacturing to Oklahoma, the company will help us grow as a leader in aerospace and UAS (unmanned aircraft systems).”

Valkyrie is finalizing negotiations on a temporary lease agreement to begin operations, as well as an agreement to construct a new, approximately 1 million square-foot campus for permanent use, Tafoya said.