LOCKHEED MARTIN FAST-TRACKS PAC-3 MSE COMPONENTS IN LESS THAN ONE MONTH IN PARTNERSHIP WITH GM DEFENSE

Lockheed Martin announced the first delivery of mission-critical components produced by GM Defense for the PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) interceptor missile, less than one month after the two companies signed a formal contract. The companies signed their agreement on 6 August, and GM Defense delivered the first batch of PAC-3 MSE housing components on 28 August, a 22-day turnaround for components that Lockheed Martin says can traditionally take months to years to produce, using GM Defense’s casting and machining capabilities to meet defence specifications. “This extraordinary 22-day turnaround underscores Lockheed Martin’s relentless focus on execution, delivering for our troops faster, with greater capacity,” said Tim Cahill, president, Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. “Our partnership with GM Defense is a concrete example of how we’re merging world-class commercial manufacturing with defense supply chain and production practices and rapidly translating that into battlefield readiness for the United States.” Stephen duMont, President and CEO of GM Defense, said: “We’re proud to support production of this country’s critical defense capabilities. Our partnership with Lockheed Martin leverages GM’s precision-fabrication expertise and ability to manufacture with quality at scale. We look forward to putting these strengths to work in support of our nation’s security and the people who protect it.” Lockheed Martin says it is investing 8 to 9 billion dollars to scale munitions production, adding new buildings, expansions and jobs at more than 20 sites across the United States, and expects production and warehousing space for munitions to grow by almost 50 percent once planned expansions are complete.

ALSO TODAY: LOCKHEED MARTIN AND THE DEPARTMENT OF WAR AGREE TO ACCELERATE JATM MISSILE PRODUCTION

Lockheed Martin separately signed a framework agreement with the US Department of War to accelerate production and delivery of the AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile (JATM), a long-range air-to-air missile compatible with the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II. “This agreement builds on years of collaboration to deliver this critical air dominance capability to the warfighter,” said Cahill. “We will deliver JATM at the speed our nation and allies demand while providing value for taxpayers and our shareholders.” The agreement forms the foundation for a multiyear procurement contract pending Congressional approval, and Lockheed Martin frames it as an outcome of the Department of War’s Acquisition Transformation Strategy. Lockheed Martin’s release cites Australia’s decision to invest nearly 736 million dollars to equip its air force with JATM; Australia’s own Department of Defence confirms that figure, announced on 6 August at the Pitch Black air combat exercise in Darwin, and states that Australia will become the first country outside the United States to operate JATM, integrating it first onto F/A-18F Super Hornets and later onto F-35A Lightning IIs and EA-18G Growlers. “This announcement is the latest milestone in the delivery of long-range, high-tech capabilities for our Defence Force,” said Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, while Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy said the investment “will deliver the most advanced capability for our ADF to detect and counter threats, and keep Australians safe.”

Note: The Marles and Conroy quotes are drawn from the Australian Department of Defence’s own 6 August release, not from Lockheed Martin’s material, and are included here as independently verified context for Lockheed’s reference to the Australian deal.