Just a year after announcing plans for a $22 million expansion of its Huntsville facility, GE Aerospace is growing again in the Rocket City.

The aircraft engine builder said today it will invest $55 million in new and upgraded production equipment and building improvements.

“GE Aerospace has been an important part of Huntsville’s aerospace and defense ecosystem for years, consistently investing in innovation and advanced manufacturing in our community,” said Mayor Tommy Battle. “Today’s announcement that the company will invest $55 million in its Huntsville facility is another strong signal that our city continues to play a key role in the future of aviation and national defense.

“We appreciate GE Aerospace’s continued confidence in Huntsville and look forward to working together as they upgrade production of ceramic matrix composites in their Huntsville facility.”

The expansion will help increase capacity and maintain strong quality as demand grows, GE Aerospace said.

“GE Aerospace’s $55 million investment is a strong vote of confidence in our workforce and our community,” said Bethany Shockney, president & CEO of the Limestone County Economic Development Association. “This facility is producing cutting-edge materials that are literally changing how aircraft are built, and we’re proud Huntsville and Limestone County is at the center of that innovation.”

Huntsville’s plant produces advanced materials that are the building blocks for ceramic matrix composites, which are one-third the weight and can handle up to 500 degrees hotter temperatures than traditional metals, GE Aerospace said.

“Pushing the boundaries of aerospace is what Huntsville does, and the materials we make here are giving our customers capabilities that once seemed out of reach,” said Stephen French, Huntsville’s site leader. “We are all in on U.S. manufacturing, Huntsville, and our customers.”

The expansion in Huntsville is part of the company’s $1 billion investment in its U.S. manufacturing sites and supplier base during 2026 to help accelerate engine deliveries, ramp production of parts that safely extend time between maintenance shop visits, and strengthen defense production to keep pace with military demand.

“This investment is exactly the kind of economic momentum that makes Limestone County a great place to live and work,” said Collin Daly, chair of the Limestone County Commission. “We’re grateful GE Aerospace continues to grow here, and we look forward to supporting their success for years to come.”

GE Aerospace said the investment — the company’s second consecutive $1 billion U.S. investment — will benefit sites across more than 30 communities in 17 states.

GE Aerospace also plans to hire 5,000 U.S. workers, including manufacturing and engineering roles, in addition to the 5,000 people it hired last year.

“Maintaining U.S. aerospace leadership requires sustained investment in our people, our facilities, and the technologies that will define the future of flight,” said H. Lawrence Culp, Jr., Chairman and CEO of GE Aerospace. “This investment is for our customers, our communities, and our country.”

Since 2024, GE Aerospace has announced plans to invest more than $2.5 billion across its U.S. manufacturing sites and supplier base, including approximately $600 million in sites producing defense engines during the last three years.

This manufacturing investment is in addition to the nearly $3 billion GE Aerospace invests annually in research and development.