Lockheed Martin (referred to as Lockheed Martin) has opened a new hypersonic system integration laboratory in the Huntsville area of Alabama. The company stated that the new facility will support the research and development of next-generation weapons and assist the United States in establishing a foundation in hypersonic technology.
Hypersonic weapons can fly at speeds over five times the speed of sound and can maneuver to evade traditional defense systems, making them a core aspect of the military competition between the United States and China. The Pentagon is accelerating the development of this advanced technology, while Russia has used such weapons in attacks on Ukraine.
The new facility, with an area of about 17,000 square feet, was completed in about a year and includes advanced testing equipment, simulation tools, and system integration environments. This will significantly shorten the development cycle and enhance the deployment of higher performance systems for the U.S. military.
Lockheed Martin stated that this laboratory is part of a larger capital expenditure plan, with the current total scale of around $529 million, covering facilities spanning 719,000 square feet, some of which are still in the planning and construction stages.
Jim Romero, Vice President of Hypersonic Strike Weapon Systems at Lockheed Martin’s Space Division, said, “This facility, built to accommodate advanced engineering and integration capabilities, will be a key in solidifying Lockheed Martin’s position as a leader in hypersonic defense and deterrence technology. We are proud to add this advanced hub in the Huntsville area.”
Holly Molmer, Program Management Director at Lockheed Martin, mentioned, “Hypersonic weapons, with their unparalleled speed and maneuverability, are surpassing traditional threats, reshaping the future of military defense. Their quick response capability enhances deterrence, ensuring potential adversaries understand that any aggressive behavior will lead to an immediate and decisive response. As conflict intensifies, hypersonic systems have become an indispensable element in maintaining peace and protecting national security.”
Over the past five years, Lockheed Martin’s Strategic and Missile Defense Sector has invested approximately $200 million in infrastructure spanning over 400,000 square feet, with plans to invest an additional $500 million to further expand its capabilities.
Lockheed Martin plays a vital role in the U.S. hypersonic weapons industry and has received billions of dollars in funding from the Pentagon for the development of hypersonic capabilities for the Air Force and Navy.
The company is also tasked with integrating the Army’s Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW) into ground-based launch platforms and is collaborating with Leidos Dynetics to produce the Common Hypersonic Glide Body (CHGB) for use by the Army and Navy.
The U.S. Army is expected to receive a shipment of hypersonic ammunition by the end of this month and plans to conduct a major test after the weapon is received.
In addition to Lockheed Martin, defense startup Castelion also won a contract in October to integrate its developed hypersonic strike weapon, “Blackbeard,” into the existing U.S. Army system.