Precision CNC capacity is expanding across aerospace and defense - what build-to-print shops should watch. Posted by Jason Hansen on Sep 23rd 2026 Precision CNC capacity is expanding across the U.S. aerospace and defense supply chain. In September 2026, several manufacturers announced new floorspace, machines, or regional sites aimed at complex flight hardware, sustainment parts, and build-to-print work. For small OEM and job shops, those headlines are a demand signal: primes and Tier 1s still need qualified machining partners who can hold print, schedule, and quality. One clear example is Machine Sciences Corporation, an Oregon-based precision CNC manufacturer with Florida operations. On September 10, 2026, the City of Cedar Park, Texas, approved a performance-based economic development agreement for Machine Sciences to lease about 48,000 square feet at Cedar Tech I, create 70 full-time jobs, and invest roughly $31.9 million. The company specializes in complex, high-precision components for space, aerospace, and defense - including satellites, unmanned aerial vehicles, and advanced defense systems - and has reported roughly 20-30 percent annual growth in recent years. That kind of investment is not happening in isolation. In early September, Seyer Industries ordered a second Starrag STC 1800 machining center to expand capacity for large titanium and high-performance alloy components used in aerospace and defense. Mid-month, GKN Aerospace broke ground on a $16 million expansion of its North Charlestown, New Hampshire engine-component plant, adding turning, surface finishing, and non-destructive testing so more process steps stay on one site. On September 22, KIHOMAC announced a planned $25 million, roughly 130,000-square-foot Oklahoma City facility to grow aerospace manufacturing and sustainment capacity supporting Tinker Air Force Base. * Capacity announcements often trail program ramp needs. When OEMs add floorspace and five-axis machines, RFQs for brackets, fittings, housings, and tooling usually follow. * Buyers still filter on fundamentals: documented quality (AS9100 or equivalent where required), configuration control, inspection capacity, and honest lead times. * Materials matter. Titanium, stainless, and other hard alloys show up repeatedly in these expansions - shops that already program and fixture those alloys are better positioned when overflow work appears. * Proximity still helps. Regional clusters around depots, primes, and space campuses attract supplier visits and dual-source conversations. None of this guarantees a purchase order. It does mean the market is still investing in U.S. precision machining. Shops that keep drawings clean, processes repeatable, and delivery dates real remain the ones OEMs call when a cell is overloaded. Sources: City of Cedar Park (Machine Sciences expansion, Sep 10, 2026); MTDCNC (Seyer Industries Starrag STC 1800, Sep 1, 2026); Defence Industry Europe (GKN Aerospace North Charlestown expansion, Sep 16, 2026); Expansion Solutions Magazine (KIHOMAC Oklahoma City expansion, Sep 22, 2026).

KIHOMAC plans $25M, 130,000-square-foot facility near Tinker By: Sam Royka//September 22, 2026//

ITI Engineering and KIHOMAC sign MOU to support forward F-35 sustainment and ACE enablement. FARNBOROUGH, England - July 22, 2026 - ITI Engineering (ITI), a leading provider of rugged military computing systems, today announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding with KIHOMAC to jointly pursue opportunities that support forward F-35 sustainment and Agile Combat Employment (ACE). The MOU was signed during the 2026 Farnborough International Airshow, one of the world's premier aerospace and defense industry events. The agreement brings together ITI's deployable ODIN hardware, which supports F-35 mission planning, maintenance, and sustainment activities, with KIHOMAC's MXU-1072/A Advanced Travel Pod to support concepts that help move mission support capability closer to forward operating locations. The companies will explore integrated capability concepts, including the F-35 Forward Sustainment Kit and missionized pod configurations, aimed at improving the deployment, transport, and accessibility of mission support capabilities for F-35 operators. "Forward sustainment is becoming increasingly important as military operators look for ways to support distributed operations with less dependence on fixed infrastructure," said Kevin Speed, president of ITI Engineering. "By working with KIHOMAC, we can bring together deployable ODIN hardware and physical transport capability in a way that supports more flexible mission operations." KIHOMAC's MXU-1072/A Advanced Travel Pod is designed to support worldwide mobility, adaptive basing and ACE requirements for U.S. and international F-35 users. The pod is designed for the F-35 internal carriage space and supports deployment cargo, support equipment, and spare parts. "The Advanced Travel Pod was developed to give F-35 operators a practical, certified way to carry the equipment they need to support distributed operations," said Ki Ho Kang, CEO of KIHOMAC. "Working with ITI creates an opportunity to pair that physical carriage capability with deployable ODIN hardware that can help customers operate with greater flexibility at the tactical edge." The MOU reflects a shared focus on practical, deployable capability for F-35 operators. By combining complementary sustainment and mobility technologies, ITI and KIHOMAC aim to help customers support readiness, reduce reliance on centralized infrastructure and better equip units operating in forward environments. About ITI Engineering Headquartered in Winter Springs, Florida, ITI Engineering has delivered high-performance defense electronics and custom-designed systems for aerospace mission planning, debrief, and maintenance for more than 20 years. Specializing in mission-critical data management, ITI provides advanced airborne, ground-based, and naval computing solutions, including secure data transfer and recording devices, ruggedized servers, and engineering and software services. As part of the Aeronix Technologies Group (ATG), ITI combines its rugged computing and mission data expertise with complementary communications capabilities across the ATG portfolio to support the aerospace, defense, and commercial markets. About KIHOMAC Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, KIHOMAC is an aerospace and defense company providing engineering, manufacturing, aircraft sustainment, logistics, and mission support solutions to the U.S. Department of Defense, allied nations, and leading defense contractors. For more than 20 years, KIHOMAC has delivered innovative solutions across aircraft modernization, systems engineering, advanced manufacturing, integrated logistics support, and sustainment, helping customers improve mission readiness and operational capability in complex environments.