Bethesda, Maryland – 3 June 2025: In a bold step toward future-proofing defence capabilities, Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] has launched AI Fight Club™, a high-stakes, competitive environment that tests artificial intelligence (AI) systems across multiple domains including air, land, sea, and space. This initiative aims to fast-track the operational deployment of AI technologies for U.S. national defence.

AI Fight Club is more than just a simulation—it is a rigorous proving ground. Designed to meet Department of Defense (DOD) standards, the synthetic environment allows teams from industry to pit their AI models against each other in realistic and complex military scenarios. These contests will determine which technologies are the most reliable, robust, and ready to support warfighters in real-world missions.

“There has never been a more important time to prove which implementations of AI technologies are the best,” said John Clark, Senior Vice President of Technology and Strategic Innovation at Lockheed Martin. “AI Fight Club uses advanced simulation and visualisation to evaluate AI in scenarios that reflect modern warfare.”

Shaping the Future of AI in Defence

The AI Fight Club will provide a virtual arena where companies and innovators across the defence sector can test their systems in scenarios such as:

• Airborne operations in contested environments
• Layered homeland defence
• Coastal defence against amphibious assault
• Space-based surveillance and reconnaissance

Each head-to-head battle will be judged on performance, with scenarios selected to mimic operational complexity and stress-test the capabilities of competing AI systems. Government representatives will also participate, engaging with the teams and contributing to the refinement of future AI developments.

Fostering Innovation and Security

Insights from the competitions will be used to identify vulnerabilities, strengthen systems, and accelerate the broader adoption of AI in national security applications. In a collaborative spirit, teams will have opportunities to publish and present their results—providing transparency, accountability, and thought leadership in this rapidly advancing field.

Lockheed Martin is currently building the virtual platform that will host AI Fight Club, with the simulation environment expected to be completed by the end of Q3 2025. The first competition is scheduled for Q4 2025.

Teams eager to join the fray are encouraged to prepare now. Details and registration information are available at: www.lockheedmartin.com/AIFightClub or by email at AI.Fight.Club.LM@lmco.com.