Gov. Sam Brownback joined a chorus of state officials in expressing dismay Wednesday at Boeing’s decision to close its Defense, Space and Security plant in Wichita by the end of 2013.

“Today’s announcement on the phaseout of Boeing’s presence in Wichita is very disappointing to all of us,” Brownback said. “We are deeply saddened that Boeing Defense at the end of this transition period will no longer have operations in Kansas.”

In announcing the closing, Boeing said it needs to cut costs in a tight market for defense spending. The announcement means the loss of 2,160 jobs at a facility that once served as the centerpiece to Wichita’s claim as the air capital of the world.

Brownback said he had several conversations with Boeing officials leading up to the decision, but “budget realities” that have spurred defense cuts at the federal level doomed the Wichita facility. Brownback said he is optimistic that the void left by Boeing Defense will be filled by the commercial airline market, which he said is on the upswing.

Other elected officials in Kansas expressed frustration and outrage at Boeing’s decision, which comes after the company promised to bring 7,500 jobs to Wichita as part of a refueling tanker contract.

In a statement, Sen. Pat Roberts said the decision was “hugely disappointing.”

“Boeing’s chairman sat in my office 22 months ago,” Roberts said, “and promised me, then-Senator Brownback and Congressman Tiahrt that if we won the fight to get the tanker contract back, Boeing would stay in Wichita. The chairman again promised the entire delegation the work would remain in Wichita just last February, when the tanker contract was settled in Boeing’s favor.”

The tanker work will go to Boeing facilities in Texas, Oklahoma and Washington. Job reductions at the Wichita facility are scheduled to begin in the third quarter of 2013.

A Boeing news release said the decision “was based on a thorough study of the current and future market environment and our ability to remain competitive.” Mark Bass, a Boeing vice president, said the company “will do everything possible to assist our employees, their families and our community through this difficult transition.”

Kansas Democratic party chairwoman Joan Wagnon said in a statement that the move by Boeing could mean a loss of $1.5 billion in state wages over 10 years.

“We should all learn that throwing money at wealthy corporations to attract or retain jobs doesn’t guarantee loyalty or longevity,” Wagnon said. “We need a new approach to economic development that invests first in our schools, our people, our roads and communities.”

According to the Kansas Legislative Research Department, the state has enacted at least nine measures that supported or benefited Boeing in the past 10 years, including tax incentives, subsidized training programs and investments in the National Institute for Aviation Research.

Brownback said those investments weren’t wasted, because they will help attract commercial airplane manufacturing to replace the declining defense market.

"We are going to see more aviation work in the state of Kansas," Brownback said. "That's the long-term, and so all of those investments have been proper and they're moving us forward."

Secretary of Commerce Pat George said he has heard from commercial aviation companies that have a "huge need" for production and that all 2,100 Boeing employees in Wichita and more could be employed to ease backlogs there.

"My daddy taught me not to count that sale until the money hits your hand," George said. "But if I were a betting man, I'd put all I have on those projects."

Boeing has had a facility in Wichita since it bought the Stearman Aircraft Co. in 1929. During World War II, employment at the plant peaked at more than 40,000 as the company churned out four bombers a day. For decades the company remained the city’s largest employer.

Then in 2005, Boeing spun off its commercial aircraft operations in Kansas and Oklahoma. At that time, the company still had roughly 15,000 employees in Wichita. After the divestiture, Boeing retained 4,500 workers for its defense work in Wichita, but layoffs since have slashed that remaining work force.

The Associated press contributed to this report.

Andy Marso can be reached at (785) 295-5619 or andy.marso@cjonline.com. Follow him on Twitter @andymarso.