Collins Aerospace Announces $40 Million Expansion in Puerto Rico

Collins Aerospace, a business unit of RTX (NYSE: RTX), has announced a commitment to invest more than $40 million to expand and modernize its operations in Puerto Rico. The initiative, announced on February 23, 2026, by Governor Jenniffer González Colón, targets the company’s facilities in Santa Isabel and Aguadilla. According to the official announcement, the project is expected to create approximately 525 new full-time positions in engineering and manufacturing.

The investment marks a significant increase in the aerospace giant’s footprint on the island. With the addition of these new roles, Collins Aerospace projects its local workforce will reach nearly 2,100 employees. This growth will bring the total number of RTX employees in Puerto Rico to approximately 3,500. The expansion focuses on upgrading infrastructure, machinery, and equipment to support “end-to-end electronics operations,” ranging from initial design to final manufacturing.

Operational Upgrades in Santa Isabel and Aguadilla

The capital injection will be split between two primary locations, each serving a distinct function within the Collins Aerospace supply chain. The company states that the investment is designed to enhance support and delivery times for customers through the implementation of advanced manufacturing technologies.

Santa Isabel: Manufacturing Modernization

The Santa Isabel facility, which specializes in electronics and electromechanical components, will see significant infrastructure updates. The company plans to utilize the investment to optimize productivity through “scalable automation solutions” and “connected factories.”

According to the press release, the Santa Isabel location delivers a wide range of critical systems, including:

• Digital and controller systems (switches, system controllers, moving map displays).
• Electrical systems (high-power, motor, and signal-level controllers).
• Communications systems (radar systems, RF technologies, high-frequency transmitters).

Aguadilla: Engineering Growth

In Aguadilla, the focus remains on engineering services. This facility provides support across the entire product life cycle, including design, maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) for integrated systems. The expansion is expected to bolster the site’s capacity to handle complex engineering tasks for the aerospace and defense sectors.

Strategic Partnership and Government Support

The announcement event, held at La Fortaleza in San Juan, highlighted the collaboration between the private sector and the Puerto Rican government. Attendees included Governor Colón, Department of Economic Development and Commerce (DDEC) Secretary Sebastián Negrón Reichard, and Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company (PRIDCO) Executive Director Roberto Lefranc Fortuño.

Javier Ramis Rivero, vice president of global operations for Collins, emphasized the strategic importance of the island to the company’s long-term goals:

“Puerto Rico is a strategic hub for Collins’ continued sustainable growth. Our planned expansion will create a shared infrastructure focused on end-to-end electronics operations, from design to manufacturing, enhancing support and on time delivery for our customers.”

Javier Ramis Rivero, Vice President of Global Operations, Collins Aerospace

Governor Colón framed the investment as a validation of Puerto Rico’s industrial policy, noting that the expansion demonstrates confidence in the island’s talent pool and infrastructure. DDEC Secretary Negrón Reichard added that the project would have a direct impact on the creation of specialized jobs and the strengthening of the local aerospace value chain.

AirPro News Analysis

This $40 million investment reinforces Puerto Rico’s status as a growing hub for the U.S. aerospace and defense industry. The move aligns with broader “reshoring” trends, where major U.S. defense contractors seek to secure supply chains within domestic jurisdictions that offer competitive operating costs. By expanding “hands-on learning areas” and engineering capabilities, Collins Aerospace is likely leveraging Puerto Rico’s high output of bilingual STEM graduates, a critical resource for companies implementing Industry 4.0 technologies.

Furthermore, the involvement of PRIDCO suggests the revitalization of existing industrial properties, a strategy often used to maximize the utility of state-owned infrastructure while minimizing new construction lead times. This expansion places Collins alongside other major aerospace players on the island, such as Lufthansa Technik and Honeywell, solidifying the region’s aerospace cluster.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the total value of the investment?
Collins Aerospace is investing more than $40 million in its Puerto Rico operations.

How many jobs will be created?
The project is expected to add approximately 525 full-time engineering and manufacturing jobs.

Which locations are being expanded?
The investment targets facilities in Santa Isabel (manufacturing) and Aguadilla (engineering).

What types of products are manufactured at these sites?
The facilities produce digital controller systems, electrical power controllers, and communications systems including radar and RF technologies.

Sources

RTX Press Release