- 47G hosted its annual aerospace and defense showcase at the state Capitol on Wednesday.
- The event featured 50 exhibits and over 100 companies, including Boeing and Northrop Grumman.
- Vector Defense's "Dagger" drone was demonstrated, highlighting Utah's growing aerospace industry.
SALT LAKE CITY — Defense industry leaders, executives and innovators showcased their wares at Utah-based 47G's annual aerospace and defense showcase at the state Capitol Wednesday, drawing hundreds of attendees.
Aaron Starks, president and CEO at 47G, called the industry — which makes up 20% of Utah's economy — "vital" to the state.
"This is our annual opportunity to convene business leaders, founders, community partners (and) universities to come and showcase some of the technology being developed here right in our backyard. We also have investors that come here and are able to exchange business cards and meet with founders," Starks said.
Beyond showcasing cutting-edge technologies shaping America's aerospace, defense and national security future, the day offers legislators and the public a first-hand look at the advanced technologies being developed across the state's rapidly growing aerospace and defense industry.
"We want lawmakers to be able to leave their meetings ... to be able to come down and connect with industry so that we can show them how important this is," Starks said. "We want this to be a priority, because unlike any other industry, this industry is going to impact the state in different ways over the next 10 years."
This year's event featured nearly 50 interactive exhibits and over 100 aerospace and defense companies across the 47G ecosystem.
Exhibitors included global names in national security such as Boeing, Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems. Utah was represented by companies including Fortem Technologies, Torus, Vector and ElectraFly, along with higher education institutions like the University of Utah and Weber State University.
Attendees also got the chance to witness a live demonstration of Utah-based Vector Defense's "Dagger" drone.
The drone is a 3.5-inch, one-way, internal-clearance quadcopter designed to neutralize threats while reducing risk to friendly operators, according to 47G.
Wes Pritchett, operations director at Vector, said the Dagger can be used for a variety of purposes, including internal clearance and hostage rescue.
"Basically, you send this into a confined area or space — building, cave, whatever it may be — instead of having to send operators in," Pritchett said. "So it really protects the operator, protects the war fighter, gives them eyes, ears and vision inside confined spaces before they actually go in."
Pritchett said Vector has been based in the Beehive State for about a year now, operating out of a 32,000-square-foot warehouse in Bluffdale.
"The fact that Utah is such a business-friendly state, from the government level all the way down to the community and the local area, we realized that this is the place to be," Pritchett said. "And also the fact that you have the Utah Test Range, Dugway (Proving Ground) — you have a lot of very important military installations and units here."
This, surely, is music to the ears of folks like Stark and Utah lawmakers focused on the industry and its future as an economic driver of the state.
"Utah's aerospace and defense industry is a cornerstone of our state's economy and a source of opportunity for Utah families. It represents nearly one-fifth of our economy, supports hundreds of thousands of high-quality jobs and brings in about $100 billion to our economy each year," Utah Senate President Stuart Adams said in a statement.
"We have a responsibility to be good stewards of this strength by investing in our people, keeping Utah competitive and building the infrastructure our future depends on. When we do that, we give Utah companies the freedom to innovate, grow and compete worldwide, while creating lasting opportunities for the next generation of Utahns," Adams said.
