The plush, red carpet that led from the registration desk to Key Brothers Hangar at Meridian Regional Airport Monday morning suggested something big was in the offing.

The movers and shakers who played a role in Raytheon Company’s proposal to make Meridian the future home of the T-100 Integrated Air Training System’s final assembly and check-out sites were invited to be part of the company’s site “inauguration.”

Speakers included Raytheon President of Space and Airborne Systems Rick Yuse, Gov. Phil Bryant, Sen. Roger Wicker, U.S. Rep. Gregg Harper and Sen. Thad Cochran’s Chief of Staff Brad White. State Sen. President Pro Tem Terry Burton welcomed those in attendance and Speaker Pro Tem of the State House of Rep, Greg Snowden led the Pledge of Allegiance.

“This is a great day for manufacturing in Mississippi,” Yuse said. “Raytheon and Mississippi’s partnership has made this world a safer place. The partnership created hundreds of new jobs and millions of dollars in revenue.”

Yuse and other speakers dropped the names of Meridian aviation pioneers Fred and Al Key.

“This is not the first time Meridian has made aviation history. In 1935 the brothers made aviation history by not setting their plane down for 27 straight days, a world record for endurance flight. Their Ole Miss plane is in the Smithsonian Institute. That same tenacity and innovation Raytheon has decided to build the T-100 in Meridian at Key Field. I would say we chose well.”

Raytheon announced in October its proposal to build the T-100 Integrated Air Training System, a proposed training jet for the U.S. Air Force, in Meridian. The announcement brought promise for the potential of 450, high-paying jobs.

Raytheon’s T-100 will use multi-dimensional, digital scenarios to be the “safest, lowest-risk training solution,” Yuse said. “It is customized for the Air Force’s mission.”

Officials unveiled renderings for the T-100 facility. The renderings by LPK Architects showed a sleek facility that would hold a combination of manufacturing, assembly, testing and administration, all within the complex of the airport property. It would be built on a 30-acre site at the airport.

Gov. Bryant also alluded to the Key brothers.

“Over 70 years ago we heard the story of the Key brothers. City fathers thought they would have to shut down the airport because they couldn’t afford it. It was a time of imagination and daring. That is what makes Meridian and Lauderdale County say we can do things together. We never stop moving in Mississippi. This Mississippi Development Authority team is the best of the best. “

Bryant recently met with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the latter instantly recognized Cochran’s name during talks. Cochran is Chairman of the Appropriations Committee. Israel’s Air Force flys Raytheon-made T-346 fighters.

“If the U.S. Air Force wants the best trainers in the world, they will select this aircraft,” Bryant said. “We want the people of Meridian to make this investment. We realize we have to win this so we know we have opposition.”

Raytheon is in competition against Lockheed Martin, Boeing and Northrop Grumman.

“On June 4, 1935, Fred and Al Key showed Mississippi could do remarkable things. We never realized 71 years later that history will be made here again,” Bryant said. Let’s look forward to the T-100 because the future will be brighter.”

“Raytheon intends to win this competition,” Yuse said.

“This shows Mississippi can compete with any state in the country,” Harper said. “Raytheon could have gone anywhere if they had chosen to, but they chose us. My hat’s off to (East Mississippi Business Development Corp. Executive Director) Bill Hannah and all the folks in Meridian.”

Wicker is a member of the Armed Services Committee.

“Lauderdale County and Meridian, we want to win this thing for you,” Wicker said. “Let’s do it for the troops. We have the right company, the right state and the right workforce. We think Raytheon’s got the best bid. “

(Sen. Cochran) is very happy Meridian is being considered,” White said. “We’re confident Meridian will make Mississippi proud.”

Dignitaries attending included Meridian Mayor Percy Bland, City Council members, members of the Lauderdale County Board of Supervisors, State Rep. Charles Young, Mississippi Development Authority Director Glenn McCullough, Community Development Department Director Bunky Partridge, EMBDC Executive Director Bill Hannah, members of the Hardin and Riley foundations, Mississippi Arts & Entertainment Experience Executive Director Mark Tullos, Meridian Airport Authority President Tom Williams and EMBDC Board of Directors Abdul Lala.

“It’s a great day for Key Field and our entire region, both east Mississippi and west Alabama,” Williams said. “It shows what happens when we all work together. Now we’re working together to support Raytheon in their bid. We will accommodate them in whatever Raytheon needs. “

“We’re very excited Raytheon is in competition to put together the best competitive package to advance our workforce in Meridian and Lauderdale County,” Bland said.  

The next steps include the Department of Defense’s request for proposals, bids by the contractors, review of the bids, a contract award and potential appeals. The process could take a year to complete. Yuse said it could be nine or 10 months for the Air Fore to evaluate proposals and could award the contract at the beginning of 2018.