Today’s complex threat environment requires 21st Century Security® technologies and solutions that enable the U.S. military and its allies to work as one force. For more than 75 years, Lockheed Martin has been a trusted partner to NATO and European nations as we work together to strengthen their defense capability and industrial base. At Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, these long-standing partnerships are more critical now than ever before, as countries across Europe look for innovative solutions to deter and defend against evolving threats.
“With demand for our proven capabilities at an all-time high, we're turning to a network of European industrial partners to build local supply chains and increase integrated deterrence,” said Tim Cahill, President of Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. “These vital partnerships put our 21st Century Security vision into action, enabling us to deliver cutting-edge capabilities faster and more affordably.”
Here are eight ways we’re strengthening our collaboration to ensure NATO and European allies are equipped with the advanced missile and sensor technologies they need to handle threats and stay ahead of ready:
- Lockheed Martin and Rheinmetall entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on providing Germany with a customized rocket artillery system that maximizes existing and combat-proven components produced in Germany. The Global Mobile Artillery Rocket System (GMARS) was unveiled at Eurosatory 2024 in June and is a wheeled artillery system based on the combat proven HIMARS. GMARS is precise and cost-effective on the modern battlefield, providing all-weather, long range precision fires. The system will be produced in Germany and is compatible with NATO Forces’, HIMARS and M270, as well as the MLRS Family of Munitions.
- In September 2023, Lockheed Martin and Poland’s Ministry of National Defense signed an Executive Agreement involving the production of the HOMAR-A Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS), HOMAR-A will be a Polish rocket artillery system that integrates key components of the HIMARS rocket launcher onto a Jelcz 6x6 truck. Recently, Poland’s Ministry of National Defense announced that negotiations will soon commence on the framework agreement which will allow for 486 HOMAR-A vehicles to be assembled in Poland, as well as the in-country production of tens of thousands of rocket ammunition missiles to arm the systems.
- In recent months, multiple agreements were signed with European customers for the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM). Under the United States Government’s Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program, Poland signed a Letter of Acceptance to purchase several hundred JASSM-ERs to augment its existing arsenal. A few weeks later, The Netherlands signed a Letter of Acceptance to purchase JASSM-ERs, making The Netherlands JASSM’s fifth international partner. Lockheed Martin continues to support the United States Air Force’s efforts to integrate JASSM-ER on the F-35 platform, providing significant additional capability to the European operators.
- Also in Poland, Lockheed Martin celebrated the opening of WZL-1’s Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3®) Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) launch tube production line. WZL-1 stood up a new facility and production line to enable PAC-3 MSE launch tube production, featuring state-of-the-art technology and production equipment. Lockheed Martin has transferred all necessary technology and manufacturing data to validate the production line and enable WZL-1 to become an approved supplier.
- In addition to opening this production line, the U.S. government and Polish Ministry of Defence also signed a LOA for the sale of 96 AH-64E helicopters making Poland the 18th country to operate the AH-64D/E once delivered. The LOA includes the delivery of 96 Target Acquisition Designation Sights/Pilot Night Vision System (TADS/PNVS) produced by Lockheed Martin and 36 LONGBOW® Fire Control Radar systems through a joint venture with Northrop Grumman.
Further, at the MSPO trade show in Kielce, offset implementation agreements were signed with five Polish companies to support eight new high-value projects in the second phase of the WISLA program that will sustain high-value manufacturing and engineering jobs in Poland. These projects will build on Lockheed Martin’s existing relationships within the Polish defence industry under the initial WISLA programme and provide capabilities to strengthen Poland’s regional security.
Recently, Lockheed Martin officially kicked off the eight projects in the second phase of the WISLA program. These opportunities also provide new areas of technology, training and technical assistance to the Polish defense industrial base.
- In May, Lockheed Martin opened the first HIMARS Support Center in Europe, located in Romania. The sustainment center will contribute to the creation and sustainment of high-value jobs and deliver increased readiness with lower operational costs for Romania’s Land Forces.
- Lockheed Martin will soon deliver unprecedented interoperability to NATO defense forces through an innovative new Sniper Networked Targeting Pod. When integrated onto F-16 and Eurofighter jets, this Sniper pod will serve as an edge communications and computing node to coordinate missions involving 4th and 5th Generation fighters, mobile artillery systems such as HIMARS, and precision-guided missiles. This instant data sharing and integration across Lockheed Martin platforms will help NATO defense forces act faster than any adversary defense forces act faster than any adversary.
- Our hypersonic Mako™ missile may offer another opportunity to strengthen collaboration with European partners. The U.K. has made it a priority to develop a sovereign hypersonic strike capability, and under the AUKUS trilateral security partnership we are seeking opportunities to support this goal. We see this as more than a co-production arrangement—we seek a partnership in which to share intellectual property and develop sovereign and exportable missiles built in the U.K. by its skilled workforce. Mako is a great example of a program that might be the focus of such a collaboration if the U.S. approves.
Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control is committed to supporting our European partners and working together to innovate and develop next-gen technologies that will reinforce their defense capability. These partnerships maximize industrial participation, enhance self-reliance, contribute to local economies and support supply chain anti-fragility, ensuring we can deliver modernized solutions to our customers when they need them the most. It’s all part of our commitment to build a more advanced, resilient and interoperable defense industry worldwide.