On Tuesday, June 16, 2026, American companies Lockheed Martin and GM Defense (part of General Motors) announced a new dimension of cooperation aimed at strengthening the US industrial and defense base, supported by the Department of Defense.
Image: GM Defense
Under the signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), Lockheed Martin and GM Defense will explore opportunities to accelerate the deployment of key capabilities and innovations by combining Lockheed Martin’s defense manufacturing expertise with General Motors’ advanced industrial capabilities in rapid commercial production and engineering.
The cooperation will focus on three areas:
- strengthening defense supply chains,
- developing manufacturing and design capabilities,
- assessing opportunities to increase production capacity through commercial manufacturing experience and infrastructure.
Initial activities will include analyzing ways to accelerate production readiness and apply proven commercial manufacturing methods to support military production requirements.
“America’s security depends not only on developing advanced technologies, but on our ability to produce them quickly, reliably and at scale,” said Frank St. John, chief operating officer, Lockheed Martin. “This collaboration brings together two leaders in American manufacturing and innovation to explore new ways to strengthen the defense industrial base, expand production capacity and accelerate delivery of critical capabilities for the United States and its allies.”
“Working together, GM Defense and Lockheed will further strengthen American manufacturing and national defense by driving greater speed, efficiency, and innovation in the aerospace and defense sectors,” said Steve duMont, president of GM Defense. “Over the coming weeks, we will be working to identify initial projects to pursue together.”
The cooperation reflects the growing demand for greater production capacity, supply chain resilience, and manufacturing flexibility across the defense sector. By combining commercial and defense expertise, the companies aim to identify opportunities that can accelerate production timelines while maintaining the quality, performance, and reliability standards required for mission-critical systems.
When the nation needs more, American industry answers the call. @LockheedMartin 🤝 @GM
— Lockheed Martin (@LockheedMartin) June 16, 2026
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