Lockheed Martin

What does Lockheed Martin make?
Lockheed Martin produces military aircraft (F-35 Lightning II, F-22 Raptor, C-130 Hercules), missiles and fire control systems (PAC-3 Patriot, HIMARS, JASSM, Javelin), helicopters (Black Hawk, CH-53K through Sikorsky), and space systems (GPS III satellites, missile defense, Orion spacecraft). The company serves the US Department of Defense and international military customers in more than 100 countries.

Is Lockheed Martin publicly traded?
Yes, Lockheed Martin Corporation is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under ticker LMT. The company has a broad institutional and retail shareholder base with no single controlling shareholder. Major institutional shareholders include Vanguard Group, BlackRock, and State Street.

Who founded Lockheed Martin?
Lockheed Martin was formed in March 1995 through the merger of Lockheed Corporation (founded 1912 by the Loughead brothers) and Martin Marietta (formed 1961). Both companies had roots in early aviation and became major US defense contractors during World War II and the Cold War.

Where is Lockheed Martin headquartered?
Lockheed Martin is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, USA. The company's primary manufacturing facilities are in Fort Worth, Texas (F-35 production), Marietta, Georgia (C-130 and F-22), Owego, New York (helicopters), and Sunnyvale, California (space systems).

How many employees does Lockheed Martin have?
Lockheed Martin employs approximately 122,000 people worldwide. The company's workforce is concentrated in the United States, with significant operations in the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Japan, and Germany. Lockheed Martin is one of the largest employers in the US defense industry.

Who owns Lockheed Martin?
Lockheed Martin Corporation is publicly traded on the NYSE with a broad institutional and retail shareholder base. No single shareholder holds a controlling stake. Major institutional shareholders include Vanguard Group, BlackRock, and State Street. James Taiclet serves as Chairman, President, and CEO.

Lockheed Martin was formed in March 1995 through the merger of Lockheed Corporation and Martin Marietta, two of the United States' largest defense contractors. The merger was driven by post-Cold War defense budget reductions that made consolidation necessary for survival.

Lockheed Corporation was founded in 1912 by brothers Allan and Malcolm Loughead in Santa Barbara, California. The company became famous for its Skunk Works advanced development division, which produced legendary aircraft including the U-2 spy plane, SR-71 Blackbird, and F-117 Nighthawk stealth fighter.

Martin Marietta was formed in 1961 through the merger of the Glenn L. Martin Company (founded 1912) and American-Marietta Corporation. The company produced military aircraft, missiles, and space systems, including the Titan rocket family used to launch early US astronauts.

Following the 1995 merger, Lockheed Martin became the dominant US defense contractor. The company attempted to merge with Northrop Grumman in 1998, but the merger was blocked by the US Department of Justice on antitrust grounds.

Lockheed Martin won the contract for the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter in 2001, the largest defense contract in US history. The F-35 program produces three variants for the US Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps as well as international partners, and has generated hundreds of billions of dollars in revenue over its lifetime.

Lockheed Martin acquired Sikorsky Aircraft from United Technologies in 2015 for approximately $9 billion, adding the Black Hawk and other helicopter programs to its portfolio.

For full-year 2025, Lockheed Martin reported net sales of approximately $71.0 billion, reflecting continued strong demand for defense products amid elevated global security concerns following Russia's invasion of Ukraine and tensions in the Indo-Pacific region.

Lockheed Martin has established comprehensive sustainability initiatives focused on environmental stewardship, ethical business practices, and workforce safety. The company's 2025 Sustainability Management Plan (SMP) defines specific goals across four sustainability priorities: Advancing Resource Stewardship, Elevating Digital Responsibility, Fostering Workforce Resiliency, and Modeling Business Integrity.

The company's sustainability program includes energy management initiatives to reduce environmental impact across manufacturing facilities and operations. Lockheed Martin has committed to improving energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions from its operations.

In resource stewardship, the company focuses on counterfeit parts prevention, hazardous chemicals management, and supply chain vulnerability assessment. Lockheed Martin works to ensure the integrity of its supply chain while managing environmental and safety risks associated with materials and substances.

For digital responsibility, Lockheed Martin has established policies for artificial intelligence ethics, data privacy protection, and intellectual property rights. The company develops AI systems for defense applications while maintaining ethical standards and data protection measures.

Workforce initiatives include harassment-free workplace policies, workforce representation goals, and comprehensive workplace safety programs. The company emphasizes employee safety across all manufacturing and operational facilities.

Business integrity remains a core focus, with robust anti-bribery and corruption programs, ethical business practices training, and compliance monitoring across global operations. Lockheed Martin maintains strict adherence to government contracting regulations and international business ethics standards.

Lockheed Martin has received recognition for innovation, workplace practices, and corporate responsibility from industry organizations and government agencies.

• Fortune Most Admired Companies (2025): Lockheed Martin was included in Fortune's World's Most Admired Companies ranking in the aerospace and defense industry, reflecting peer and analyst respect for the company's operational capabilities and market leadership.
• Forbes World's Best Employers (2025): The company received recognition for employee satisfaction and workplace practices across its global workforce of approximately 122,000 people.
• Defense Industry Recognition: Lockheed Martin regularly receives awards from military and defense organizations for technological innovation, program execution, and support to warfighters.
• Safety Awards: The company has received multiple safety awards for workplace safety performance across manufacturing and operational facilities.

The F-35 program has been subject to significant criticism regarding cost overruns, schedule delays, and technical problems. The program's total lifecycle cost has been estimated at more than $1.7 trillion, making it the most expensive weapons program in history. Critics have questioned whether the program's costs are justified by its capabilities.

Lockheed Martin has also faced scrutiny regarding its lobbying activities and its relationships with Pentagon officials, which is common among major defense contractors. The company employs a large number of former military officers and government officials.

The company's dependence on US government contracts means that changes in defense spending priorities or budget constraints can significantly affect its revenue and profitability.