BAE Systems's Billion-Dollar Impact on 2018 New Hampshire Economy

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BAE Systems contributed $1.1 billion to the New Hampshire economy in 2018, measured by aggregate employee salaries, subcontracts, and charitable donations. The total impact combines $978.8 million in payroll and benefits to more than 6,000 New Hampshire-based employees; $135 million awarded for subcontracts and purchase orders to 246 suppliers in the state, including $109.1 million to 186 small businesses; and $1.3 million in charitable funds from the company and its employees to local organizations.

Included in the charitable donations is $471,000 in financial support of higher education, high schools, and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) programs. As part of the company’s commitment to STEM, BAE Systems donated $265,000 to New Hampshire-based FIRST. The donation is the latest in a long line of company support for FIRST Robotics, which spans more than 25 years. BAE Systems reinforced its commitment to FIRST in 2019, with the recent launch of a nation-wide annual FIRST Robotics Scholarship and Internship Program for high school seniors.

“We are committed to supporting the New Hampshire region and beyond by leveraging our rapid growth in 2018 to offer new, high-tech jobs across an expanding footprint in the communities in which we live and work,” said Terry Crimmins, president of BAE Systems’ Electronic Systems sector, which is based in Nashua. “We start this year with powerful momentum, as we continue to grow, innovate, and increase our manufacturing capacity to deliver high-quality, trusted products to meet the commitments to our customers around the world.”

The company’s recent growth has helped fuel ongoing impact and paved the way for more than 1,100 new hires in New Hampshire last year. The increased headcount has pushed operating space to a total of 2.6 million square feet in multiple facilities across New Hampshire to support projected growth in the areas of electronic warfare, threat management, precision munitions, undersea, space, cyber, and autonomy.

To help expand capacity for the future, BAE Systems recently announced it has plans to move into a 200,000-square-foot campus in Manchester, New Hampshire. Once fully staffed, the new facility will house employees primarily focused on supporting the company’s electronic warfare programs.

To staff the new Manchester office and other facilities in the region, BAE Systems has more than 700 active job openings in business development, engineering, operations, program management, manufacturing, and other key areas.

Just over the border, BAE Systems contributed $245.7 million to the Massachusetts economy in 2018 also based on aggregate employee salaries, subcontracts, and charitable donations. The company continues to grow in the state with more than 60 new hires in the last year pushing its total employee headcount to nearly 400 employees at facilities in Burlington and Lexington. It also expanded its involvement in the community with a significant increase in company and employee charitable contributions, donating $437,000 to Massachusetts-based organizations.

BAE Systems’ Electronic Systems sector—headquartered in New Hampshire—is part of BAE Systems, Inc., a global company headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, with major operations in 30 states and more than 30,500 employees in the United States. BAE Systems also holds more than 2,100 U.S. and foreign patents across numerous technology areas and serves multiple market segments, including electronics, maritime and land platforms, and intelligence and support services.