2026 Look Ahead: Delivering the Future of Defense Tech
Behind every breakthrough is the dedication of our workforce and partners to meet the growing demand for speed, scale, and certainty by integrating layered defense, long‑range precision strike, autonomous systems, air superiority platforms and advanced space capabilities into a unified, rapid‑production ecosystem. We pride ourselves in delivering decisive, resilient solutions that keep the nation safe as global threats evolve at an unprecedented pace.
1. National Security – A Unified Shield Across All Domains
The U.S. Government’s Golden Dome for America will be a multilayered shield that fuses air, sea, space, and ground capabilities into a single, resilient architecture.
Lockheed Martin is ready to support Golden Dome for America with fielded capabilities across domains, the digital backbone that can connect them all together and a manufacturing infrastructure designed for scale.
- Combat-Proven Missile Defense - PAC-3 MSE and THAAD are battle-proven against recent advanced missile attacks and ready to be integrated into existing and future systems and architectures.
- Air Superiority – The F‑35 “guardians of the sky” patrol our airspace, delivering unmatched situational awareness and strike precision.
- Space Surveillance – Tranche 2 satellites orbit Earth, feeding real‑time data to decision makers and ensuring relentless coverage of any emerging threat.
- Maritime Guard – Aegis‑equipped vessels maintain a vigilant watch over the oceans, ready to intercept hostile missiles before they approach our shores.
- Mission Integration – We connect systems and drive innovation with the mission in mind, ensuring new defense tech developments are purpose-built to deliver the right outcomes.
Together with scaled radar production lines, and field‑tested counter‑UAS systems, this integrated approach demonstrates that our defense is no longer siloed; it is a seamless, cross‑domain network that can detect, track, and neutralize threats wherever they arise.
2. Air Superiority – Precision at Mission Speed
We understand that air dominance is the cornerstone of modern military success. With our advanced technologies, partnerships and unmatched expertise, we enable armed forces to dominate the skies and maintain strategic control over the battlefield.
- Distributed Teaming – Distributed teams enhance operational flexibility across domains, delivering an asymmetric advantage in contested airspace. We are testing new capabilities to advance teaming concepts, including using a 5th Gen fighter to command a drone in flight.
- JASSM & LRASM Integration – By embedding Joint Air‑to‑Surface Standoff Missiles (JASSM) and Long‑Range Anti‑Surface Missiles (LRASM) onto the F‑35 and other platforms, we extend the reach of U.S. airpower, delivering lethal effects at operational tempo.
- Layered Defense – Animated maps, rapid launcher deployments, Sikorsky test flights, and counter‑UAS intercepts illustrate a living, breathing shield that adapts in real time.
The message is clear: our air assets can strike farther, faster, and with greater certainty, empowering commanders to shape the battlefield before the enemy can react.
3. High‑Value Space Options – From Lunar Missions to Global Security
Lockheed Martin’s partnership with NASA on Artemis II and the Orion spacecraft signals a broader commitment to space as a strategic domain.
- Human Exploration – Delivering next‑generation spacecraft that will return astronauts to the Moon showcases our engineering excellence and reinforces U.S. leadership in deep‑space exploration.
- Space‑Based Defense – The same expertise that places humans beyond Earth also fuels global missile warning, communications, and ISR capabilities that safeguard the nation.
By investing in both exploration and security, we ensure that space remains a domain of opportunity rather than vulnerability.
4. AI & Digital Engineering – Autonomy, Speed, and Quantum Edge
A cornerstone of our 21st Century Security® vision is the digital transformation of how we design, build, and operate.
- Autonomous Systems – Saildrone sea trials, Lockheed Martin Vectis™, distributed autonomous sensors and 5G.MIL nodes illustrate a future where platforms sense, decide, and act with minimal human latency.
- Digital Twins & AI‑Driven Design – High‑fidelity virtual replicas of hardware enable rapid iteration, predictive maintenance, and cost reductions across the product lifecycle.
- Quantum Capabilities – Emerging quantum technologies are being explored to provide computational power and cryptographic security that were previously unattainable.
Collectively, these advances compress development cycles, increase operational resilience, and give us a decisive edge in a data‑centric battlespace.
5. Trusted Partner – Delivering Ahead of Need
Across our business, we are transforming with urgency to deliver the speed, agility and insights our customers need to stay ahead of rapidly evolving threats.
- Readiness as a Standard – From early‑stage design reviews to final delivery, every milestone is calibrated to keep the warfighter and our allies ahead of emerging threats.
- Continuous Improvement – Lean manufacturing, automated inspection, and AI‑guided quality assurance ensure that speed never compromises reliability.
This commitment transforms a slogan into an operational reality, positioning Lockheed Martin as the go‑to partner for mission‑critical capabilities.