SCIENCE/TECHNOLOGY : Loral Considering Sites in 4 States in Its Intended Relocation

Loral Aeronutronic, a missile manufacturer in Newport Beach that is searching for a new headquarters and manufacturing plant, is considering sites in four states: California, Texas, New Mexico and Arizona, a spokesman said.

Among the possible sites is unused space at a plant of a sister company, Loral Defense Systems in Phoenix, according to Joseph Tedino, spokesman for Aeronutronic’s New York-based parent company, Loral Corp.

Loral is using only 200,000 square feet of its 1.2-million-square-foot Phoenix plant. The Aeronutronic unit, which employs 2,500 people, would require more than 600,000 square feet, sources said.

Other sites rumored in Orange County include the Irvine Spectrum, Rancho Santa Margarita and Pacific Park in Aliso Viejo. However, Tedino says that the company has made no major decisions regarding the move so far. He said the company will try to find a place in Orange County if costs permit.

In July, the company notified its workers that the Aeronutronic division would probably relocate its work force from the Newport Beach site well before its sublease expires in 1998, partly because its rent will increase dramatically to $1 million a month in 1996.