ULA, Dynetics Plan Investments in Decatur
Artist’s conception of Vulcan rocket. (Credit; ULA)
ULA and Dynetics are planning investments in Decatur, Ala. to gear up for production of the new Vulcan launch vehicle.
ULA’s proposed project requires capital investment for new technology and infrastructure for the production of the new Vulcan thrust structure assembly, which is ULA’s next generation launch system. Beginning in August 2017, the project’s total capital investment is approximately $115.6 million. ULA’s project is expected to be completed by December 31, 2020 and will help secure the employment of approximately 620 existing employees with an estimated annual payroll of around $43 million before benefits.
Dynetics presented their plans to construct the second building of an aerospace structures complex adjacent to ULA, to support development and structural testing of launch vehicles and large aerospace structures. The capital investment for the project is estimated to be $7,4. Million and is expected to create 15 new jobs within one year with an estimated annual payroll of $1 million before benefits.
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4 responses to “ULA, Dynetics Plan Investments in Decatur”
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Despite their previous hugely profitable multi-launch contracts, ULA’s investment in technological and manufacturing innovation are being dwarfed by SpaceX, BO, Arianne, China and even India. ULA strikes me as a company gearing up to squeeze out a few more years of profit before fading away to obscurity.
They are limited by their parents. The shame is that LM and Boeing don’t seem to have any interest in development, unless it’s dollar-for-dollar contracted in advance at the highest possible rate.
[When SpaceX had a successful landing and was floating reflight, one of the very staid, conservative satellite vendors (SES?) twitter-announced wanting to be the payload, just “because”. There’s an excitement that many people who work in space-related companies have… because they work in space-related companies. The primes used to have that in spades. The last survivors of the great mergers – LM, Boeing, AJR, OATK – just don’t seem have that.]
Yes, we know who to blame. Not saying ULA couldn’t find the talent and imagination if they were allowed, but the levels of investment compared to other launch providers implies that they are not allowed.
Dynetics needs to push ULA to make Pyrios the Vulcan launcher