Global aviation tech company reveals plans for $7.5M facility in Olathe
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- Indra Group announces $7.5M, 25,000 sq ft radar manufacturing facility in Olathe.
- Project expected to create more than 140 jobs and expand domestic supply chain.
- Facility will support $342M and $244.3M FAA contracts for airspace modernization.
A global aviation technology company selected Olathe as the site for a new manufacturing facility, local leaders announced in a news release.
Indra Group is reportedly planning to open a $7.5 million 25,000 square foot facility at the Great Plains Commerce Center in Olathe, 15770 S. Theden St., according to the news release.
Local leaders say the development will create more than 140 jobs, where the company will build the “next generation” of air traffic surveillance radars, the release said.
Kansas officials have been in talks with the aviation technology company for some time, Gov. Laura Kelly said in a statement March 23.
“Thanks to the strong relationship formed, Kansas is going to be a crucial pillar in expanding Indra Group’s domestic supply chain and technology transfer abilities, while also creating jobs right here in our state,” Kelly said in a news release statement.
Meetings in Spain birth new Olathe facility
According to city records, the building permit for the Great Plains Commerce Center was issued by the city Dec. 29, 2025.
As of April 1, contractors were working on framing the “tenant finish,” customizing the space near Interstate 35 and Lone Elm Road to meet Indra Group’s needs for a manufacturing facility.
The global tech company comes to Olathe after a series of meetings with Kansas elected officials dating back to 2024.
In meetings with company executives, leaders touted Kansas as an ideal location for Indra Group’s facility because of the state’s strong workforce, according to a news release.
Kansas Lt. Gov. and Secretary of Commerce David Toland visited the Indra Group headquarters in Madrid in November 2024. Then in June 2025, Kansas Reps Sharice Davids and Ron Estes, and State Rep. Susan Estes, also visited the headquarters, the news release said.
Kelly met with Indra executives and toured one of its radar production facilities in October 2025.
In a statement this week, Kelly said the radar system will “strengthen the domestic industrial base while ensuring long-term support, sustainment, and scalability for critical air traffic infrastructure.”
Indra Group’s CEO José Vicente de los Mozos said in a statement that the company aims to “deliver a safer, more resilient, and future-ready National Airspace System.”
“Our investment in Kansas, the creation of high-quality American jobs, and the transfer of advanced radar technology to the U.S. reflect our long-term commitment to America and to the FAA as the world’s leading air navigation service provider,” Vicente de los Mozos said.
The Federal Aviation Administration awarded Indra Group a $342 million contract to modernize the National Airspace System and enhance safety, reliability, and performance.
The new facility in Olathe will include work on another $244.3 million contract with the FAA to replace analog enroute radios with digital, VoIP-capable equipment, the news release said.
Kansas a leader in aerospace manufacturing
Kansas has a reputation as a hub for aviation and aerospace manufacturing, with Wichita being dubbed the “Air Capital of the World.”
The designation is largely based on the city’s history in the early days of aviation and the concentration of defense research, development and manufacturing there today.
Still, companies in the state export $2.3 billion in aerospace products annually — nearly 20% of the state’s total exports — according to data from the Kansas Department of Commerce.
Spirit Aerosystems, the world’s largest tier-one aero structures manufacturer, is based in Wichita.
In Olathe, Honeywell already operates a manufacturing facility, located at 23500 W. 105th St. The company announced plans in 2024 to invest $84 million for an expansion of the facility.
Honeywell’s 560,000-sq.-ft. facility manufactures components for Honeywell’s avionics, safety and flight control systems, and complex radio frequency systems for traffic collision avoidance, radar altimeters, and weather radar.
“Kansas is home to a massive aerospace industry footprint — where we’ve been a pioneer in manufacturing and a driver of aviation-related innovation for generations,” Toland said in a statement.
“Our state is serious about expanding our aerospace dominance, and we’re willing to put in the hard work to build relationships and engage with key industry players, both here and abroad,” he said.
