The Cedar Rapids [Iowa] Metro Economic Alliance (CRMEA) celebrated Collins Aerospace’ announcement this week that the company has been awarded new military contracts that will increase production at its Cedar Rapids headquarters.
Collins Aerospace, an RTX business, announced Monday it has secured multiple contracts from Bell Textron Inc. to supply five critical systems for the U.S. Army’s new MV-75 Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA).
The work to produce these systems will be distributed across several locations, including Cedar Rapids, where Collins Aerospace has major facilities including its global headquarters for avionics. As the city’s largest employer with roughly 7,000 employees, Collins Aerospace is a cornerstone of the regional economy.
“For a mid-sized region like Cedar Rapids, staying competitive means remaining deeply connected to global supply chains, industry innovation and workforce development. Collins Aerospace continued successes reinforce our role in those networks," said Juliet Abdel President & CEO of CRMEA. "Cedar Rapids continues to build on a well-rooted aerospace foundation, supported by a strong supplier base and close partnerships with our education systems to develop skilled talent. That holistic approach to enriching our aerospace cluster positions us well for attracting investment in advanced manufacturing and avionics.”
“The Army’s new generation of rotorcraft needs to fly farther and faster, and we’re committed to helping Bell accelerate delivery of that advanced performance with Collins’ military-grade commercial technology,” said Troy Brunk, president of Collins Aerospace.
The MV-75 FLRAA, the Army’s first clean-sheet rotorcraft in a generation, is designed to provide twice the speed and range of the current fleet.
The company will deliver a suite of critical aircraft systems, including power generation, drive systems, air data sensing technology, cockpit seating, and ice protection capabilities. These components are essential to both aircraft performance and long-term operational reliability.
Local leaders continue to prioritize workforce development as a critical factor in sustaining this momentum, with a focus on building talent pipelines that support aerospace, advanced manufacturing and emerging industries.