“Skunk Works and FalconWorks Collaborate for an Innovative Strategic Alliance”
Lockheed Martin Skunk Works® (NYSE: LMT) and BAE Systems FalconWorks (LSE: BAES) have formed a strategic partnership at the DSEI global defense conference in the United Kingdom, focused on creating a range of uncrewed autonomous aerial systems. This collaboration will engage their cutting-edge research and development teams – Lockheed Martin Skunk Works and BAE Systems’ FalconWorks – to work on a cohesive design that will be rapidly deployable and modular, offering a variety of effects, including disruptive functionalities.
By harnessing the rapid design, prototyping, and advanced manufacturing expertise of both entities, this joint effort will prioritize the development of a cost-effective and easily deployable system with multiple launch capabilities. The primary objective will be to deliver electronic warfare and strike functionalities that afford disruptive advantages, thereby enhancing the survivability of current crewed combat aircraft.
The foundational system will be designed with flexibility and modularity to accommodate varying missions, featuring numerous launch methods such as air drop, ground deployment, maritime launch, and dispatch from a wide-body logistics aircraft.
This announcement comes at a time when nations are increasingly inclined to foster a mix of crewed and uncrewed assets to adapt to the demands of today’s rapidly evolving battlefield – and the essential need to swiftly create and deploy cost-effective ‘combat mass’ to strengthen existing frontline combat platforms.
“We’re thrilled to partner with BAE Systems, combining our strengths in rapid prototyping and advanced development to provide transformative capabilities,” stated OJ Sanchez, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin Skunk Works. “By working together, we’re unveiling new opportunities for our clients and advancing the future of autonomous systems.”
Dave Holmes, managing director of BAE Systems’ FalconWorks division, noted: “Through our collaboration with Lockheed Martin, we will deliver disruptive capabilities that can markedly influence our military clients speedily, allowing them to tackle the operational challenges of today’s battlefield.”
