Spirit AeroSystems is set to expand the capability of its site in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with an investment of more than $80m.

The investment will support a number of capital projects related to the manufacturing of aircraft fuselage and assembly works.

As part of the expansion, Spirit also intends to recruit nearly 250 employees.

Spirit has worked with International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW) to implement the expansion, which is scheduled to begin next year.

The company has also received incentives from the state of Oklahoma and City of Tulsa for the planned expansion.

Spirit AeroSystems president and CEO Tom Gentile said: “The Spirit team in Tulsa has made great strides in improving the site’s efficiency and demonstrating the capability to bring in additional work.

“The Tulsa site has a critical role in helping Spirit meet rising aeroplane production rates and pursue growth opportunities.”

“The Tulsa site has a critical role in helping Spirit meet rising aeroplane production rates and pursue growth opportunities.”

The new employees at Tulsa will assist in the increased production of 737 aircraft and will form part of a larger initiative to boost operational efficiencies across sites operated by Spirit.

The first phase of expansion at Tulsa will involve infrastructure set-up.

Spirit aims to start training the employees next year and begin full-rate production with the new infrastructure by the end of 2021.

The company is also expected to make additional investment in equipment, tooling and facilities upgrades through 2022.

In a separate development, Spirit unveiled a plan to expand its site in Wichita, Kansas, US.

The expansion includes hiring  1,400 employees to support the company’s commercial and defence programmes, in addition to the 1,000 new positions announced last year.