Lockheed Martin Global

About Lockheed Martin Global

Lockheed Martin is a global aerospace and defense giant, a name synonymous with building the advanced systems that define modern security. The company's story isn't about one garage, but two, and the convergence of aviation pioneers from the early 20th century. It starts in 1912, when Glenn L. Martin, encouraged by Orville Wright, founded the Glenn L. Martin Company in Los Angeles. That same year, brothers Allan and Malcolm Loughead (later spelled Lockheed) started their own venture, the Alco Hydro-Aeroplane Company. Both companies became key players, with Martin producing crucial military aircraft during World War II and the Cold War, and Lockheed creating legendary planes like the P-38 Lightning and the SR-71 Blackbird. As the Cold War ended, the defense industry faced a new reality of budget cuts and consolidation. This set the stage for a historic move. In 1995, Lockheed Corporation and Martin Marietta—which had itself formed from the merger of the Glenn L. Martin Company and American-Marietta Corporation in 1961—joined forces in a $10 billion "merger of equals" to create the modern Lockheed Martin. This new titan didn't stand still. A year later, it acquired Loral Corporation's defense electronics business, significantly bolstering its tactical systems and communications capabilities. Another major move came in 2015 with the acquisition of Sikorsky Aircraft, bringing iconic helicopters like the Black Hawk into its portfolio. Today, Lockheed Martin operates at the forefront of technology, with major divisions in aeronautics, missiles, space, and rotary and mission systems. The company is central to cornerstone defense programs like the F-35 fighter jet and is pushing the boundaries of what's next in hypersonics and resilient space systems. With a massive backlog of orders, Lockheed Martin is positioned to continue shaping the future of defense and aerospace for years to come.