Cirrus Design Corp. added to Department of Defense prohibited list

Cirrus Design Corp. added to Department of Defense prohibited list

Today at 11:56 AM GRAND FORKS — The U.S. Department of Defense on Monday, June 8, added Cirrus Design Corp. to a list of "Chinese military companies" operating in the United States. The Duluth company, which has a manufacturing facility in Grand Forks, joins a list of 188 companies prohibited from contracting with the department, according to Department of Defense documents. In 2025, the company expanded its Grand Forks plant, where many components are fabricated for use in completed aircraft. The expansion — which was expected to be completed in 2026 — came amid increasing national security concerns in Grand Forks surrounding companies with Chinese ties. Cirrus falls under the umbrella of the state-owned Aviation Industry Corp. of China (AVIC), which manufactures both airliners and military aircraft. Despite being an American-founded and headquartered company, the organization was listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2024. The Defense Department listing carries no immediate sanctions, though it could carry consequences for the aircraft manufacturer in the future. As of June 30, Cirrus will no longer be able to enter into, renew or extend standing contracts with the DOD, according to the Defense Department documents. Cirrus aircraft are operated at the Air Force Academy as trainers; no statement has been made on their continued use at the service academy.