Global defense giant Lockheed Martin has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with advanced manufacturing startup Hadrian to embed automated, AI-driven production cells at a Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control site.
The collaboration aims to rapidly scale output for critical munitions like the PAC-3 MSE, THAAD, and GMLRS by supercharging the U.S. industrial base with robotics and smart software.
In a strategic move to fortify American defense manufacturing, industry leader Lockheed Martin is joining forces with Silicon Valley’s Hadrian to bring the “factory of the future” directly onto the production floor.
Hadrian’s unique factory-as-a-service model at Lockheed
The companies have entered a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to deploy Hadrian’s unique factory-as-a-service model at a Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control facility, creating a more resilient and scalable supply chain for high-demand missile systems. This partnership directly tackles the pressing need to accelerate production rates for vital U.S. and allied capabilities.
The core of the collaboration involves embedding a flexible, scalable machining and inspection cell equipped with computer numerical control (CNC) machines, advanced robotics, and Hadrian’s proprietary manufacturing execution platform. This turnkey solution is designed to bypass traditional bottlenecks.
“This project is a key enabler for Lockheed Martin to increase production output capacity, ensuring we can meet the high demand for our customers’ munitions needs,” said Tom Carrubba, vice president of production operations at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control.
The technology will be targeted at increasing the production rate for machined parts used in flagship programs like the PAC-3 MSE, Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), Precision Strike Missile (PrSM), and Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS).
Model for how emerging and established players can work together
For Hadrian, a company founded with the explicit mission of reindustrializing America to counter China’s manufacturing dominance, this partnership is a major validation.
“This partnership is a model for how emerging and established players can work together to build faster, more resilient defense production,” said Chris Power, CEO of Hadrian.
He emphasized that combining Hadrian’s automated manufacturing capabilities with Lockheed Martin’s deep expertise will streamline production for current and future critical programs. Hadrian’s approach leverages artificial intelligence, machine learning, and robotics to empower American workers, aiming to enable domestic production at globally competitive costs.
Significant shift
The agreement, reported by Lockheed Martin, represents a significant shift in how prime contractors are approaching supply chain resilience. Instead of solely relying on a sprawling network of external vendors, they are now bringing hyper-automated, next-generation production capabilities in-house via partnership.
This model creates a more responsive production ecosystem that can adapt as demands grow and challenges emerge. By uniting Lockheed Martin’s proven defense systems integration with Hadrian’s software-driven manufacturing, the partnership seeks to lay a blueprint for similar collaborations across the defense industrial base.
The push for such innovation is driven by a clear strategic imperative. As geopolitical tensions highlight the need for robust, domestic production of advanced munitions, the U.S. defense industry is under pressure to move faster.
This Lockheed Martin-Hadrian collaboration is a direct response, aiming not just to incrementally improve output but to fundamentally change the production paradigm. It signals a future where AI and robotics are seamlessly integrated into defense factories, ensuring that the U.S. can produce the vitally needed hardware to stay ahead of ready.
