Aerospace Infrastructure in Uruguay's Free Trade Zones

An aerospace company combines activities with very different requirements: engineering and software teams working in offices, integration areas where components are assembled, and test areas where they are tested. Choosing a location requires assessing whether the site can support all three and whether it can scale with the project. This guide outlines what to look for in the infrastructure.

What Each Activity Requires

Engineering, software, and Operations. Offices with high-availability connectivity, because mission design, simulation, and control depend on data exchange with clients and partners in other countries.

Integration and assembly. Facilities with high ceilings, floors designed for heavy loads, and climate-controlled areas for handling sensitive components.

Testing. Space and structure for test equipment, such as vibration systems, that require specific foundations and power supplies.

Logistics. Access to the airport and port for receiving components and shipping finished equipment, with a streamlined customs process.

What to Ask the Operator

Custom-built structures. Few aerospace Operations fit into a standard warehouse. It is advisable to confirm that the operator can design and build according to the project’s technical requirements.

Backup power. Testing and integration processes cannot tolerate interruptions.

Security and confidentiality. Access control to the premises and technical areas, because clients in this sector require protection for their designs and components.

Space to grow. Aerospace projects proceed in stages, from engineering to manufacturing. It’s important to know whether there are lots or facilities available for each stage on the same site.

Regime and exports. Customers are typically located abroad. Under the free trade zone Regime , the export of goods and services is exempt from domestic taxes, and imported components enter duty-free.

Aerospace Startups: How to Get Started

Early-stage companies typically start with an in-house engineering team and add technical departments as they secure their first contracts. A business park with ready-to-use offices and available lots allows them to follow that path without having to relocate, and a nearby business community facilitates access to suppliers, talent, and technology partners.

A Case in Zonamerica

Epic Aerospace, which develops orbital transfer vehicles, expanded its facilities in Zonamerica in 2026. The new plant is capable of manufacturing, integrating, and testing spacecraft weighing up to 2,500 kilograms and includes a 300-kN vibration test system. The project received support from the National Agency for Research and Innovation (ANII).

Zonamerica offers offices, custom-built buildings, and lots in a 92-hectare business park ( campus ) with 24/7 security, located about 11 minutes from Carrasco International Airport and 40 minutes from the Port of Montevideo.