This historic city, home to the Wright Brothers and a center of innovation since the dawn of flight, is now positioning itself as a key player in military aviation with the latest expansion of Sierra Nevada Corporation's (SNC) facilities at the Dayton International Airport. SNC’s new Aviation Innovation and Technology Center is poised to boost both the local economy and national defense efforts.

This hangar, the first of several planned expansions, will support SNC’s new $13 billion contract with the U.S. Air Force. The facility will be responsible for modifying Boeing 747 aircraft into the Survivable Airborne Operations Center, known as the "Doomsday" plane, ensuring command and control capabilities in the event of a national emergency.

SNC's recent investments underscore Dayton’s continued relevance in the aerospace industry. The newly opened 100,000-square-foot maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facility marks the first large-scale aircraft MRO project in the region since World War II.

Dayton's deep roots in aviation make it an ideal location for the types of projects SNC is spearheading. The city’s access to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, the Air Force Research Laboratory, and the Life Cycle Management Center provides essential resources for military aviation.

The region is further bolstered by its proximity to a strong, specialized workforce skilled in aerospace technologies, positioning Dayton as a unique competitive advantage for companies like SNC.

Dayton City Manager Shelley Dickstein said, “SNC’s significant investment in Dayton will be a transformative step for our regional strategy around the aerospace and defense industries."

The economic impact of SNC’s investment in Dayton is substantial. The project is set to create approximately 350 high-paying jobs, offering opportunities for local talent in aerospace engineering, maintenance, and logistics.

For site selectors and economic developers, SNC’s move highlights Dayton's strength as a logistics and innovation hub, with modern infrastructure that can support large-scale aviation projects. The Dayton International Airport’s extensive runways and aircraft support services make it an attractive location for companies seeking to expand operations in military and commercial aviation.

For the aviation industry, this development reinforces the trend of increasing demand for military aircraft MRO services. JLL aviation specialist Tom Taylor said, “The Sierra Nevada Corporation’s (SNC) recent award of a $13 billion contract to deliver the Air Force’s new Survivable Airborne Operations Center (SAOC) exemplifies how growth in the Aerospace & Defense (A&D) Industry is increasing real estate needs in a growing number of markets throughout the United States. The SNC’s new contract is expected to drive facility and infrastructure needs and employment opportunities in Dayton, OH; Denver, CO and Dallas, TX. Continued growth in A&D facility needs is expected as the DoD makes planned investments to modernize its equipment and infrastructure.“

As the defense sector modernizes, the need for facilities capable of handling large-scale, complex projects like the “Doomsday” plane continues to grow. SNC’s new Dayton facilities will play a key role in addressing this need, positioning the company—and the city—to meet the evolving challenges of national defense.

Dayton’s history as a leader in aviation innovation makes it uniquely suited to support the growing demands of the aerospace industry.

The city’s legacy, combined with its modern capabilities, ensures that it will remain a critical location for aviation and defense companies. For those in the business of site selection and economic development, Dayton’s partnership with SNC offers a model for how regions can leverage their historical strengths and infrastructure to attract major investment in cutting-edge industries.