Brookley Industrial Complex in Mobile, Alabama is the newest site of choice for EADS (European Aeronautic Defense & Space) North America. Announced in June 2005, ground was broken in January 2006. The location will house a Military Modification and Assembly Line (MMAL) for the production of KC-330s in the U.S. An Airbus Engineering Center (EADS along with BAE Systems jointly own Airbus) will be co-located at the site and, at full capacity, employ more than 150 aerospace engineers. It is scheduled to open in January 2007 and will be responsible initially for assignments related to Airbus’ new A350 aircraft. It is also the first step in a potentially larger-scale industrial site to be built should the Northrop Grumman KC-30 Advanced Tanker cargo aircraft, of which EADS is a principal subcontractor, receive an order to modernize the U.S. Air Force’s aerial refueling tanker fleet. Depending on the size and pace of the Air Force order, the total facility investment could reach $600,000 and direct employment levels could be as high as 1,000 workers.
