Lockheed : Core Competencies, Key Strengths, And Key Weaknesses

Our leadership is founded on talented employees effectively applying advanced technology and sound business management. Northrop Grumman employees lead through competence, creativity, and teamwork (Northrop Grumman, 2016). In addition, we strive to attract and retain the best employees by providing an inclusive work environment wherein employees are receptive to diverse ideas, perspectives, and talents to help solve our toughest customer challenges. Northrop Grumman develops and maintains some of the most technically advanced products, programs, and services in the world. For this reason, our continued success requires us to provide the education and development needed to help our people grow (Northrop Grumman, 2016).

The after taking 25 years to develop the F22 Raptor from conception to operational certification the United States Air Force (USAF) produced the world’s first 5th Generation air superiority fighter. (site) This revolutionary fighter plane leveraged its very low observable stealth (VLO) and thrust-vectoring and digital fly by wire technology, to produce an extremely fast, agile and deadly air to air combatant. (GEO P 2) However, in 2009 Robert Gates, Secretary of Defense, (SECDEF) convinced the President (POTUS) and Congress to truncate the F22 program, leaving the USAF with less than 187 operational F22 Raptors, this number was well short of the 381 the USAF estimated they needed to meet their mission requirements. (AWC 1/ site) Gates made his controversial decision based on three factors. This essay will explore these factors and explain how the 2009 U.S strategic environment, the overall cost of the F22 and Secretary Gates’ desire to change the Department of Defense (DOD) all lead to the decision to limit the production of the F22 Raptor at 187 aircraft.

Lockheed Martin Corporation relies heavily on defense contracts from the U.S. Government. In fact, 84 percent of the company's net sales were made through being a prime contractor or subcontractor for the U.S. Government. These sales come from both the Department of Defense (DoD) and non-DoD agencies. The next largest area of revenue is from foreign governments that make up 15 percent of net sales. The remaining net sales come from commercial or other customer sales. A slow economy could cause decline or reprioritization of funding for the U.S. defense budget. This is also true for

Hytema is one of the world’s largest defense contractors. Therefore, the vast majority of their technical information is extremely sensitive, and if compromised, the consequences could be exceptionally devastating. Hytema lead the team that developed the F-45 Raider fighter jet, the detailed technical information for this one project alone is especially sensitive. If technical details for the F-45 Raider fighter jet were to end up in enemy hands, not only would they have the specifications to possibly replicate the fighter but also information which can be used to attack the jet, such as how to hack into its navigation or weapons systems.

NSI is a good strategic fit for Lockheed Martin (LM). LM’s goal is to “return at least half of free cash flow to shareholders through stock repurchases and dividends.” LM has completed 25 large acquisitions since 2001 and looks for firms that have the following:

Boeing’s target market is different in that they are selling to companies rather than individuals. The target market is determined through a combination of geographic and demographic segmentation. The two target markets are commercial airline companies and the US government and its allies. These markets directly coincide with the company’s two business units: Commercial Airplanes and Defense, Space, & Security (Boeing, 2016).

2. Fighter aircraft are classified into generations (gen). Currently the United States has the only combat ready fifth gen fighter, the F-22. The introduction of the F-35 will increase United States air dominance by providing stealth capabilities, integrated sensor information, and advanced network operations. This will allow the F-35 to act as a mobile command and attack center.1 The R&D that went into the JSF program not only created a new airframe, however other technologies including the Northrop Grumman’s Distributed Aperture System (DAS) which incorporates into Rockwell Collin’s helmet mounted display system (HMDS).2, 3 The DAS collects imagery data from six infrared cameras located around the airframe. This real time video allows the F-35 pilot to “see through” their aircraft. The DAS displays in the HMDS, the world’s most advanced display system that promises to increase the pilot’s situational awareness, tactical capability and mission effectiveness.4

Thank you for taking time out at the SoCal Aerospace Expo in Downtown Los Angeles to talk to Kit and myself. We are very excited to hear that Lockheed Martin are working toward a migration plan toward the cloud and are also looking into setting up a big data practice. As we mentioned during our conversation, we are certified HUBZone company located in Torrance, CA. We have been helping Northrop Grumman with both the cloud and big data space and would welcome the opportunity to sit down with you and your team to share our experience but more importantly, listen to Lockheed Martin needs. When you have a chance, please let me know if you have time within the next 2 weeks for us to meet

The F-22 and F-35A may look and seem similar to someone who doesn’t know their respective missions, but they are far different in every aspect including size, capabilities, and roles. Most people think that both of these jets are made to do the same job. The truth is they are not. The F-22 is a stealth air-to-air based fighter, meaning that it is engineered to win dog fights not to drop bombs. Although the F-22 does have air-to-ground capabilities, that is not its primary mission. This also indicates its need for two engines instead of one. The f-22 sitting at 62 feet long, 16.7 feet high, with a wingspan of 44.5 feet, and the ability to travel at Mach 2 naturally has the upper hand over the F-35. The F-35 also known as the Multi-role fighter

Today, the Lockheed Martin Corporation is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland and employs 126,000 people worldwide. The company is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration, and sustainment of advanced technology systems. Lockheed also serves both domestic and international customers with products and services that have defense, civil, and commercial applications, with their principal customers being agencies of the U.S. Government. In 2011, 84% of their $45.8 billion in net sales were made to the U.S. Government, either as a prime contractor or as a subcontractor. Lockheed’s U.S. Government sales were made to both Department of Defense (DoD) and non-DoD agencies. Sales to foreign governments (including foreign military sales funded, in whole or in part, by the U.S. Government) amounted to 15% of net sales in 2011. The remainder of net sales was attributable to commercial and other customers. In 2011, net sales at Aeronautics of $13.2 billion represented 29% of their total net sales. Aeronautics has three principal lines of business and the percentage that each contributed to its 2011 net sales was 68 percent combat aircraft, 20 percent air mobility, and 12 percent in other aeronautics programs. At December 31, 2011, we operated in 545 locations (including offices, manufacturing plants, warehouses,

In summery I have looked at the strengths weakness of the firm. I have isolated a few ideas and facts that present logical representations of Lockheed’s current stance and that it is strong within the markets they pursue. The current standpoint of the United States populous is a scary one that the company must continue to prepare for. They must continue to develop and produce the F-35 despite current negative opinions and even though it may be hurting their overall aeronautical profits, they must full fill their obligation to produce the next generation fighter. Despite the fact they went into the negative this year in the aeronautical department it would stand to say that they will still come out on top. I suggest investing in the company

In 1997, they merged with McDonnell Douglas and are currently the world's largest aerospace company and leading manufacturer of commercial airliners and defense, space and security systems. With

Lockheed Martin is a major security and aerospace company headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland. Employing over 97,000 employees worldwide, Lockheed Martin is principally focused on research, design, development, manufacture, integration, and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products, and services (Lockheed Martin at a Glance, n.d.). Lockheed Martin is organized into broad business areas to include aeronautics ($17.8 billion in 2016 sales), missile and fire control (6.6 billion in 2016 sales), rotary and mission systems (13.5 billion in 2016 sales), and space systems (9.4 billion in 2016 sales) (Lockheed Martin at a Glance, n.d.). To better understand the global giant that is today’s Lockheed Martin, a historical look at the two companies that merged in 1995 and their respective accomplishments is essential.

As the world’s largest aerospace company and leading manufacturer of commercial jetliners and defense, space and security system, Boeing puts a lot of efforts and innovations in its products and services. These include commercial and military aircraft, satellites, weapons, electronic information and communication systems, and performance-based logistics and training.

The entrepreneurial sprit which began the foundations of Lockheed Martin remains alive within the company today. Although, the companies’ stricter guidelines do not allow an employee to simply begin an entrepreneurial venture on their own, the company has evolved from an airplane manufacturer to an organization that is involved in everything from defense to space exploration. This massive diversification of interests was brought about by intrapreneurial ventures. It was Lockheed Martin that coined the phrase “Skunkworks”, meaning specialized teams dedicated to discovering new projects. The origin story of “skunkworks” is well known and shows the tenacity and innovation that Lockheed Martin is capable of. In 1943, an engineer named Clarence “Kelly” Johnson and a group of young engineers were asked to design and build a jet fighter to help the US Army prepare for the growing German threat. The small group was isolated and the project was kept secret operating out of a circus tent because available and private space was scarce in the Lockheed Martin facility. The group was given one hundred and fifty days to complete the project, and they completed the jet in one hundred and forty-three (Miller, 1995). This spirt of innovation and growth marked the true beginning of the boom in product development which continues to this day under the same name, but this time trademarked.