By SCBIZ Staff

COLUMBIA -- The Economic Development Partnership of Aiken and Edgefield Counties and the South Carolina Department of Commerce announced Wednesday BAE Systems is expanding operations in Aiken County. The company has received various contracts with the U.S. Department of Defense to produce, upgrade and remanufacture key defense systems for the nation’s armed forces, such as Bradley Combat Systems vehicles, Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Systems (MRAPS) mine-protected wheeled vehicles and Vertical Launching System components.

BAE Systems recently leased the former Avondale Distribution Center at Sage Mill Industrial Park near Graniteville and plans to invest in the facility and create an opportunity for increased employment for BAE Systems in the Aiken area.

“South Carolina and Aiken County are very supportive of manufacturing industry, and the work force in the Aiken area is excellent,” said Mike Eaton, BAE Systems’ Aiken plant manager. “The job development credits offered through the South Carolina Enterprise Zone are expected to support this expansion and benefit both the organization and the Aiken County area work force over the coming years.”

BAE Systems has begun the hiring process and is working closely with Aiken Technical College and the state’s Center for Accelerated Technology Training program. The company will initially produce engine compartments in Aiken County for MRAPS, which is the company’s latest wheeled vehicle designed to defeat improvised explosive devises and small arms fire.

BAE Systems’ Aiken facility in the Verenes Industrial Park currently employs 260 people.

BAE Systems is a global defense and aerospace company, delivering a full range of products and services for air, land, and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, information technology solutions, and customer support services. BAE Systems, with 88,000 employees worldwide, had 2006 sales that exceeded $25 billion.