MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WHNT) — Manufacture Alabama named a Huntsville-made missile as the 2025 “Coolest Thing Made in Alabama.”
Boeing in Huntsville manufactures the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) Seeker. From over 44 entries in the Manufacture Alabama “Manufacturing Madness” competition, Boeing’s PAC-3 missile was crowned as the winner.
Boeing’s PAC-3 seekers enable the Patriot air defense system’s life-saving interceptors to identify, track, and defeat threats like hostile aircraft and ballistic and cruise missiles. As threats rapidly evolve and proliferate, demand for the Patriot and Boeing seekers has surged to protect more servicemembers, civilians, and infrastructure globally. In 2024, Boeing delivered a record number of seekers for the U.S. Army and international partners as a subcontractor to Lockheed Martin.
The company plans to incrementally ramp up production of increasingly sophisticated seekers in 2025 and beyond.
Manufacture Alabama
The winning product was revealed during a special awards ceremony on April 10, with Alabama Secretary of Commerce Ellen McNair presenting the award.
“The event drew leading manufacturers, elected officials, and community partners together to recognize the innovation and craftsmanship behind some of the most impressive products made in the state,” Manufacture Alabama said.
This year’s competition saw more than 130,000 votes cast and 10 industry sectors represented, including aerospace, food and beverage, chemical, pulp and paper, and iron and steel.
The four finalists—Evonik, A.C. Legg, Boeing, and Essity—showcased Alabama’s depth of manufacturing excellence, each with a product that represents the state’s ingenuity and global reach.
“This competition not only celebrates the incredible products made right here in Alabama, it’s a testament to the people, companies and communities driving innovation across our state,” Jon Barganier, President and CEO of Manufacture Alabama, said. “Congratulations to all of this year’s finalists and our 2025 winner!”
“The Coolest Thing Made in Alabama” campaign highlights the vital role of manufacturing in Alabama’s economy and seeks to elevate public awareness of the diverse, high-quality products made in communities across the state.
“We’re incredibly proud to manufacture the PAC-3 Seeker—an essential component of the world’s premier air defense system—right here in Alabama,” Jim Bryan, director of Boeing Integrated Air & Missile Defense, said. “It’s an honor to be recognized, and we’re grateful to our talented teammates in Huntsville who consistently deliver this lifesaving capability for the service members and the civilians around the world who rely on it.”
In 2018, Boeing hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to commemorate the expansion of its PAC-3 facility at the Huntsville plant. Boeing said it is more than doubling production space for the PAC-3 interceptor and adding 70 jobs to a workforce on the project between 200 and 300 existing employees.
Former U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks said the PAC-3 is vital to the national security of the U.S. and its allies. “This advancement, this expansion, we need to emphasize what it’s truly all about,” he said. “It’s about saving the lives of Americans.”
You can learn more about the competition and view the full list of participants on Manufacture Alabama’s website here.
The post Huntsville-made missile named 2025 ‘Coolest Thing Made in Alabama’ appeared first on WHNT.
