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Hush Aerospace bringing 80 jobs, $14...

Hush Aerospace bringing 80 jobs, $14 million investment to Tupelo

By: Frank Corder - June 14, 2023

The company’s CEO says Mississippi and Lee County possess a culture which speaks to what their team embraces as fellow Americans – freedom and patriotism.

Hush Aerospace, an unmanned aerial systems designer and manufacturer, was founded in 2019 in Virginia Beach, Virginia. While the company continues to be headquartered in Virginia with an international office in the United Kingdom, Hush Aerospace announced this week that it is locating operations in Tupelo, Mississippi.

The company plans to establish a state-of-the-art facility for the assembly, manufacturing, testing and evaluation of UAS in Tupelo, representing a corporate investment of $13.975 million and the creation of 80 jobs.

Hush Aerospace says the move will enhance its domestic drone market by providing cutting-edge UAS/robotic platforms and components that meet the rigorous standards of NASA and the military.

“Mississippi and Tupelo/Lee County not only provide Hush’s expansion with one of our nation’s premier manufacturing locations, but they offer a dedicated, skilled workforce and a public education, community college and research university platform that is second to none,” said Zachary Johns, CEO of Hush Aerospace, in a statement. “On top of all of that, Mississippi and Lee County possess a culture which speaks to what Hush and its team members embrace as fellow Americans – freedom and patriotism.”

According to their company website, Hush Aerospace’s vision is to change the way the UAV industry is perceived by creating reliable platforms that are capable of long flight times and are payload agnostic but with an emphasis on lowering the acoustic signature of vehicles so they are designed to be integrated into day-to-day life. 

The company says its platforms have been and are currently being used across both government agencies and within the private sector as a reliable way to lower the end-users costs while safely saving time through unique platform designs. 

Hush Aerospace believes this new venture in Tupelo will enhance national security by onshoring UAS design and production.

In a release from the Mississippi Development Authority announcing the project, Governor Tate Reeves welcomed the investment and said the news is another win for Mississippi.

“Our state is getting stronger every day and today’s announcement is an example of that. We’ve made historic investments in workforce development, and more and more companies are wanting to do business in Mississippi,” Governor Reeves was quoted as saying. “I am proud to welcome Hush Aerospace as our newest corporate partner.”

The Mississippi Development Authority noted that the agency is providing assistance for the construction of the company’s 60,000-square-foot facility while also providing assistance through the MFLEX tax incentive plan.

MDA stated that AccelerateMS is providing a Mississippi Works grant to support the critical training needs of Hush Aerospace and will support the company’s long-term workforce goals and objectives for this project.

About the Author(s)
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Frank Corder

For nearly two decades, Frank Corder has reported and offered analysis on government, public policy, elections, business and matters of faith. He is the Editor for Magnolia Tribune where he oversees the day-to-day content development. Frank’s interviews, articles, and columns have been syndicated throughout Mississippi as well as in various national publications. His resume includes appearances on the BBC, CBS News, ABC News, and Fox News, among others. Frank is a frequent analyst on radio and television, providing insight and commentary on the inner workings of the Magnolia State and beyond. During his career, Frank has interviewed government officials and candidates from City Halls to the White House, including Presidential candidates, White House officials, U.S. Senators, Congressmen, Cabinet Secretaries, and Governors. He previously hosted his own local radio and television programs and has managed private businesses in the financial, hospitality, and retail sectors. Frank has served his community as an elected City Councilman and as an Assistant/Acting City Manager. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, he led the effort to plan Pascagoula's recovery and rebuilding which earned him recognition as Mississippi's Volunteer of the Year. Frank also led Pascagoula's municipal government out of a $14.5 million deficit, which the Mississippi State Auditor heralded as a model for other communities facing dire financial straits. As the president of the Pascagoula High School Quarterback Club, Frank has self-published "The Book of Pascagoula Football." He has been married for over 25 years and has two children, both of whom work in public education. Email Frank: frank@magnoliatribune.com