Military aviation service provider to establish operations in Greenville County

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Aero Precision/Kellstrom Defense, a military aviation sustainment provider, plans to establish operations in Greenville County. The company’s $1.2 million investment is expected to create 21 new manufacturing jobs, according to a news release from Greenville Area Development Corp.

“We are extremely excited to expand our manufacturing footprint into the Greenville, S.C., market manufacturing cluster,” Tony Grant, the company's vice president of business integration, said in the release. “We recognized an opportunity to grow our relationships in the region and build upon our foundation. The state has welcomed us with open arms, and we very much look forward to the growth of our organization attributed to our strategic footprint in Greenville.”

Aero Precision/Kellstrom Defense partners with more than 35 original equipment manufacturers and provides military aircraft aftermarket parts and distribution services, repair and overhaul capabilities, along with engineered product solutions, according to the news release.

The new location will be a hub for inventory and industry leading sustainment initiatives, the release said. Aero Precision/Kellstrom Defense’s expansion of its engineered products division will provide additional opportunity to provide solutions and customer support to new and existing customers in the region.

Located at 508 Matrix Parkway in Piedmont, Aero Precision/Kellstrom Defense’s new facility will allow the company to increase capacity to meet growing demand, the release said. The strategic position of the new facility allows the company to leverage existing relationships to support tactical platform growth. The site will be a central location to house inventory, along with a prime location to expand the company’s engineered products business segment.

“Today’s announcement by Aero Precision/Kellstrom Defense is proof that South Carolina’s aerospace industry continues to soar,” Commerce Secretary Bobby Hitt said in the release.

In March, Aero Precision acquired Kellstrom Defense Aerospace, which provides services in defense aircraft sustainment through strategic distribution, component repair services, engineered products and logistics solutions, according to the release. The combined companies offer tip-to-tail solutions for rotary wing, transport and fighter aircraft to the global defense market and value-added solutions to provide mission readiness to customers.

The new facility is expected to be online by Sep. 30.

“Aero Precision/Kellstrom Defense is a leading provider of military aviation aftermarket solutions and actively partners with many of the world’s best-known aerospace brands, including those well-established in Greenville County,” Greenville County Council Chairman Butch Kirven said in the release. Kirven is also on the GADC board. “This is evidence that our aerospace industry continues to ascend to new heights. Greenville County Council warmly welcomes Aero Precision/Kellstrom Defense and salutes their decision to join our family of great aerospace companies.”

Duke Energy’s Carolina Investment Fund for economic development has approved a grant toward upfit expenditures to assist with costs related to the project.