Lockheed Plans Factory-of-the-Future
Lockheed Martin entered into a memo of understanding with Hadrian “to accelerate the pace and value of advanced American manufacturing at Lockheed.” According to a joint release, Hadrian will apply its factory-as-a-service approach to install a scalable work cell for machining and inspection at a Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control plant, relying on artificial intelligence and automation systems to increase the production rate for parts needed for missile programs, including PAC-3 MSE®, THAAD, PrSM, and GMLRS, among others.
The production cell will consist of CNC machines, robotics and Hadrian’s manufacturing execution system, which the partners claim will speed Lockheed’s production rate and improve efficiency for a variety of machined parts.
"We are excited to collaborate with Hadrian to deploy their automated machining and inspection technology to strengthen our manufacturing capabilities and supply chain," stated Tom Carrubba, v.p.-production operations at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control.
Hadrian was established in 2020 to prioritize advancing aerospace and defense system manufacturing, emphasizing capabilities like robotics and a proprietary software “stack” for highly automated production of aerospace and defense systems. Its "factories of the future" are in Torrance, Calif., and Hawthorne, Calif.
In July Hadrian announced a third plant, a $200-million project in Mesa, Ariz., covering 27,000 square feet, that targets a January 2026 start.
The proprietary software “stack” that it claims makes it possible to bring new production online in under six months is called Opus; it’s described as an AI-powered platform for autonomous production of precision-machined parts for rockets, satellites, jets, and drones.
Neither party has indicated the capitalization for the Hadrian installation at Lockheed, nor its location: Lockheed’s Missiles and Fire Control systems is centered in Grand Prairie, Tex., with major production activity in Alabama, Arkansas, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania.