WASHINGTON, D.C. - Late this afternoon, the Federal Trade Commission announced the approval of the United Launch Alliance (ULA), a business partnership program between Lockheed Martin Corporation and The Boeing Company that will lead to new jobs at the Boeing manufacturing facility in Decatur.

Currently, Boeing produces the Delta IV and Delta II rockets at the Decatur plant.  Under the ULA, Lockheed Martin will move its Atlas V rocket production from Colorado to Boeing’s Decatur plant, resulting in the addition of approximately 200 jobs at the plant.    The spacious facility will house both production lines, and the cooperation between the two companies will make both rockets more competitively priced in the international commercial satellite launch market.  

Both the Lockheed Martin Atlas V and the Boeing Delta IV are part of the Air Force’s Evolved Expendable Launch Program.    The recently passed Fiscal Year 2007 Defense Appropriations bill includes $936,490,000 for procurement under this program. 

Congressman Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville) offered the following comment:

“North Alabama has become the heart of rocket country in the United States.  Today’s announcement offers further proof regarding the business environment and high quality workers that are available to the aerospace industry here in the state.  I’m pleased that these good, high paying jobs will be coming to Decatur as a result of today’s Federal Trade Commission decision and look forward to the plant’s continuing success.”

###