Acquired · Lockheed Martin · Overview
Lockheed Martin
Defence contracting as a multi-decade strategic relationship.
Major events · 1912–2001
- 1912Founding
Two aviation lineages begin
The Lockheed brothers and Glenn Martin establish separate aircraft companies that will eventually combine.
Acquired: Lockheed Martin (May 2023)
- 1943Strategic shift
Skunk Works operating model emerges
Kelly Johnson leads a small, autonomous team to deliver the XP-80 jet on an accelerated schedule.
Acquired: Lockheed Martin (May 2023)
- 1995Acquired co.
Lockheed and Martin Marietta merge
The combination creates today's prime contractor across aircraft, missiles, space, and mission systems.
Acquired: Lockheed Martin (May 2023)
- 2001Product
Joint Strike Fighter contract awarded
The F-35 becomes a platform program spanning development, production, sustainment, allies, and suppliers.
Acquired: Lockheed Martin (May 2023)
Origin
Turn frontier aerospace engineering into mission-critical systems whose customer relationship lasts for decades.
The modern company combines two aviation lineages: the Lockheed brothers' aircraft business and Glenn Martin's aircraft company. Their 1995 merger created Lockheed Martin, while the Skunk Works operating model preserved a small-team path for unusually hard programs.
Key facts
Loral defense acquisition
~$10B
F-35 share of net sales
20%
U.S. government revenue
~75%
Episodes · 1 covering this company