Lockheed Martin and GM Defense (a unit of General Motors) have announced a new collaboration to strengthen America's manufacturing and defence industrial base, facilitated by the US Department of War.
Working under a memorandum of understanding (MOU), Lockheed Martin and GM Defense will explore opportunities to accelerate the delivery of critical capabilities and innovation by combining Lockheed Martin's defence production expertise with General Motors' advanced industrial capabilities in ‘high-rate commercial manufacturing and engineering’.
The collaboration will focus on three areas: strengthening defence supply chains, advancing manufacturing and design capabilities, and evaluating opportunities to expand production capacity through commercial manufacturing expertise and infrastructure.
Reports say Lockheed Martin is investing $9 billion through 2030 to modernise its facilities and supply bases. Some analysts also note that the US has seen its military stockpiles fall because of ongoing wars in Ukraine and Iran. The collaboration will likely address rebuilding key weapons and missiles availability.
The companies said initial efforts will include exploring ways to accelerate production readiness and apply proven commercial manufacturing approaches to support defence production requirements.
"America's security depends not only on developing advanced technologies, but on our ability to produce them quickly, reliably and at scale," said Frank St. John, chief operating officer, Lockheed Martin. "This collaboration brings together two leaders in American manufacturing and innovation to explore new ways to strengthen the defence industrial base, expand production capacity and accelerate delivery of critical capabilities for the United States and its allies."
“Working together, GM Defense and Lockheed will further strengthen American manufacturing and national defense by driving greater speed, efficiency, and innovation in the aerospace and defense sectors,” said Steve duMont, president of GM Defense. “Over the coming weeks, we will be working to identify initial projects to pursue together.”
The collaboration reflects growing demand for greater production capacity, supply chain resilience and manufacturing agility across the US defence sector. By combining commercial and defence expertise, the companies aim to identify opportunities that can accelerate production timelines while maintaining the quality, performance and reliability standards required for mission-critical systems.
About GM Defense
GM Defense - established in 2017 - says it delivers integrated vehicles, power, and autonomy and connectivity solutions to global defence, security, and government markets. It claims the exceptional reliability of GM Defense's technologies results from decades of proven performance and billions of dollars spent in independent research and development by its parent, General Motors, a 'world leader in global design, engineering, and manufacturing capabilities'. For more information: www.gmdefensellc.com.
