Arkansas Landing at 2025 Paris Air Show
March 19, 2025Arkansas has a thriving aerospace and defense industry, supported by a strong network of existing companies, a skilled workforce, and a supportive business climate with common-sense public policy. Aerospace and defense companies are growing in Arkansas – established businesses are choosing to expand in the Natural State, while other companies are making their first investments here.
This summer, Arkansas is flying into the Paris Air Show to promote its thriving aerospace and defense industry. The Paris Air Show, held June 16-22, 2025, is one of the most significant aerospace events in the world, attracting companies, executives, economic developers, and more from around the globe. A delegation of Arkansas companies, officials, and economic developers will at the 55th International Paris Air Show to spotlight the state’s growing aerospace and defense industry. Led by Governor Sarah Sanders, the Arkansas team will be promoting the state’s industry at the Arkansas booth and meeting with executives during the Paris Air Show.
Arkansas has had significant success at the Paris Air Show in recent years. At the 2023 Paris Air Show, Governor Sanders and the AEDC team had multiple meetings that led to successful economic development announcements. These announcements included the R2S project, a joint venture between RTX and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, to create a manufacturing facility in East Camden which was later increased to a $63 million investment that will create up to 60 jobs; and the Dassault Falcon Jet expansion, which will create 800 new jobs in Little Rock, Arkansas.
In addition, Governor Sanders and the Arkansas team had the opportunity to help Taber Extrusions announce its expansion during the 2024 Farnborough Airshow last summer. This expansion will result in more than $60 million in capital investment and will create 70 new jobs.
At the most recent Paris Air Show in 2023, there were more than 292,000 unique visitors to the event. Of that total, 44%, or 127,312, were trade visitors, and 56% were general public visitors. The exhibition hall hosted 2,498 exhibitors from 48 countries. During the show, there were 150 aircraft displays and 210 flying displays.
To learn more about Arkansas’ aerospace and defense industry, visit AEDC’s Aerospace and Defense Key Industry page.
