Lockheed Martin partners with GM to triple defense production capacity

Lockheed Martin announced a $9 billion, three‑year investment to expand its defense manufacturing footprint, aiming to triple output at 20 sites and, in some cases, quadruple it. The plan includes a partnership with General Motors to apply automotive‑grade high‑cadence production techniques, targeting an annual output of 2,000 PAC‑3 MSE interceptors by the end of the decade and introducing a lower‑cost PAC‑3 A variant with its first flight expected within 18 months.

At the same time, Ford and General Motors are accelerating diversification into energy storage and defense. Ford has created a Ford Energy unit, committing about $2 billion to a battery plant in Kentucky and securing a contract to build tactical trucks for the U.S. Army. GM, under CEO Mary Barra, outlined expanded defense operations and large‑scale energy‑storage projects, raising its 2026 guidance and seeking higher margins beyond the automotive cycle.