Greater Cincinnati's aerospace sector is gaining more than 200 jobs and $70 million in new investment after Beehive Industries announced a major expansion of its southwest Ohio operations on July 21.
The Denver-based manufacturer of 3D-printed jet engines for military drones made the announcement at the Farnborough International Airshow in England, where Gov. Mike DeWine, JobsOhio President and CEO J.P. Nauseef, and REDI Cincinnati President and CEO Kimm Lauterbach joined Beehive Chief Product Officer Gordie Follin on stage.
"This investment allows us to go even faster," Follin said at the airshow.
Beehive makes the Frenzy 8, a 200-pound-thrust jet engine for expendable drones and uncrewed defense aircraft, and is developing the smaller, 100-pound-thrust Frenzy 6. The U.S. Air Force awarded the company a $29.7 million contract in April 2026 for flight testing and qualification of both engines. Follin told FlightGlobal the company expects to produce about 500 engines in 2026 and aims for 10,000 annually by 2028.
The expansion follows Beehive's recent acquisition of Able Tool Corporation and Planet Products Corporation, two precision-machining firms in the Greater Cincinnati area that specialize in aerospace and defense work. Planet Products operates at 4200 Malsbary Road in Blue Ash and holds AS9100D certification and ITAR registration. Beehive is organizing the acquired operations as a "Production Machining Center of Excellence."
The investment adds to Greater Cincinnati's aerospace cluster, which includes GE Aerospace's Services Technology Acceleration Center in Evendale and engine-testing co-op programs with Cincinnati State at the same campus. The region's aerospace sector generates more than $6 billion annually, according to REDI Cincinnati's Lauterbach.
Beehive already opened a 40,000-square-foot research and design engineering facility in Loveland in August 2025 and employed more than 250 people at that time.
State incentives pending
The expansion will pursue a Job Creation Tax Credit from the Ohio Department of Development at an upcoming Ohio Tax Credit Authority meeting. The date has not been announced. JobsOhio also plans to provide assistance, with terms to be disclosed after a final agreement is executed, according to the company's announcement materials.
DeWine also announced an $850 million Electra aircraft manufacturing plant in Springfield the same day, signaling Ohio's bid to attract defense-aerospace manufacturing.
This outlet is seeking comment from Evendale and Springdale officials on local supply chain implications. Residents can monitor the Ohio Tax Credit Authority's public meeting schedule through the Ohio Department of Development.
