Defense

Return to About the Region

San Diego’s Aerospace Industry

Aerospace has a long history in San Diego, dating back to the early 1900s when Ryan Airlines built the Spirit of St. Louis and Reuben Fleet brought Consolidated Aircraft Corporation to Lindbergh Field. Since then, San Diego’s aerospace industry has been an integral part of the region’s—and the world’s—economy.

Home to some of the world’s largest aerospace, aircraft, and research and development companies, San Diego is a North American aerospace hub. Accounting for nearly a fifth of the region’s innovation employment, the aerospace industry has evolved rapidly, creating new industry ecosystems, talent demands, and collaborative efforts within the region. The expansive aerospace industry in San Diego is connecting civilian initiatives with military initiatives, maintains a presence of advanced manufacturing within the region, and is continually growing as technologies emerge and capabilities increase.

EDC study: AI and San Diego’s Transportation Cluster

#7
best destination in the U.S.Trip Advisor

JOBS

29,350

ESTABLISHMENTS

1,037

AVG. ANNUAL WAGES

$142,290

Key Companies

  • Blue Sky Network
  • BMT Aerospace
  • Dart Aerospace
  • Boeing
  • Aevex Aerospace
  • Malin Space Science Systems
  • ATA Engineering
  • Inova Drone
  • Planck Aerosystems
  • Kratos Defense
  • Nikkiso America
  • Sungear Inc.
  • Space Micro
  • Shield AI
  • SkySafe

Key Resources

Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International is the world’s largest nonprofit organization devoted exclusively to advancing the unmanned systems and robotics community. It serves more than 7,500 members from government organizations, industry, and academia.

San Diego Military Advisory Counsel is a 501(c)6 non-profit organization with a mission to support and promote the mutual business and other interests of the military, their quality of life, and the defense community in the San Diego area.

National Defense Industrial Association is a 501(c)3 corporate and individual membership association that engages thoughtful and innovative leaders to promote the best policies, practices, products and technology to build a more responsive and collaborative community in support of defense and national security.

Verified Programs of Engineering talent have been identified by employers as the top training programs in San Diego for high-demand jobs. Through EDC’s Advancing San Diego program, Verified Programs participate in a competitive application process and are evaluated annually against a skills-based criteria developed by industry, a commitment to industry engagement, and their ability to reach and serve a diverse student body.

More on the industry

Study: AI helps catalyze 10% employment growth in San Diego Transportation cluster through the pandemic

San Diego’s Changing Business Landscape: Bottlenecks are squeezing bottom lines

San Diego’s Changing Business Landscape: Turning the pandemic corner

Question about this Industry Profile? Get in touch:

Lindsey Silvia
Lindsey Silvia

Sr. Manager, Economic Development