While Boeing and Lockheed dominate American aerospace industry, the other leading players include Northrop Grumman, General Dynamics, Raytheon, Honeywell, GE Aviation, Textron Corporation and Rockwill Collins. Browse through the second instalment of the article.

The Second World War laid the foundation of the US Aerospace industry whose wartime accomplishments are regarded as the most outstanding and laudable. However, with the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union, demand for weapon systems diminished and it led to several mergers and acquisitions leaving only a few major players in the global market. While Boeing Defence, Space & Security and Lockheed Martin dominate both the domestic and international markets, the other leading players are Northrop Grumman, General Dynamics, Raytheon, Honeywell, GE Aviation, Textron Corporation and Rockwell Collins.

Lockheed Martin

With its headquarters in Maryland, Lockheed Martin was formed in March 1995 by the merger of two of the world’s premier technology companies, Lockheed Corporation and Martin Marietta. Soon after, the company also forged a strategic union with Loral’s defence electronics and systems integration divisions. With a workforce of around 140,000 as per data of 2009, Lockheed Martin is an advanced technology company with global presence and is specialised in aerospace, defence and security. It enjoys a pre-eminent position in the world in the field of design, manufacture and support of military aircraft. The company’s aim is to provide the necessary capability in the regime of aeronautics for the armed forces of the US and its allies to conduct military air operations in any part of the world.

Today, Lockheed Martin is the world’s largest defence contractor with bulk of its revenues being generated through orders placed by the US government and foreign military customers. In 2008, only 15 per cent of the revenue accrued from international trade.

Since its inception, Lockheed Martin has been engaged in constant research and development of high-performance combat, air mobility and reconnaissance aircraft. Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works, well known for innovations, has in the last six decades, been credited with advanced research and the successful development of a number of cutting-edge technologies. The company’s expertise as ‘systems integrator’ significantly enhances value, capability and attributes of its products.

Combat aircraft

Lockheed Martin has produced some of the most versatile multi-role combat aircraft in the world in response to the demands of aerial combat scenarios of the future. Developed in the mid-seventies, over the last 36 years, the F-16 has evolved into a fourth generation fighter. Today, it continues to be fielded as a frontline aircraft in many air forces in the world and with the offer of the F-16 IN Super Viper, is one of the contenders for the contract for 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft for the IAF.

Another unique aircraft developed in the seventies by the Lockheed Skunk Works is the F-117 Nighthawk that pioneered the concept and design for ‘stealth’. Lockheed Martin was also a partner in the development and manufacture of the successor of the F-117, the F-22 Raptor—the only operational fifth generation aircraft in the world today. In 2001, Lockheed Martin won a $200 billion (Rs 900,000 crore) contract to develop and manufacture the fifth generation F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter. The initial order for 3,000 is the largest order for combat aircraft since the F-16 Fighting Falcon. Capable of short as well as vertical takeoff and landing, the F-35 amalgamates new technologies that would provide unprecedented levels of lethality and survivability.

Transport aircraft

For five decades, Lockheed Martin has been engaged in the design, development and manufacture of some of the most capable military transport aircraft in the world both for tactical and strategic roles. The most widely used aircraft have been the C-130 Hercules for tactical air transport operations and the C-5 Galaxy and later the C-5M Super Galaxy, a significantly upgraded version, for strategic airlift operations. The IAF is to receive in the near future, six of the C-130J modified for special operations. This is likely to be followed by orders for more.

Reconnaissance aircraft

Apart from the P-3C Orion, long range maritime patrol aircraft that has been the mainstay for the USN for decades, two other highly successful aircraft for high altitude strategic reconnaissance developed by Lockheed were the U-2 and the SR-71, the latter holding a record for its speed.

Opportunity areas in India

With the recent upswing in the strategic relationship between India and the US, and robust growth in the Indian economy, there is considerable optimism in the company with regard to long-term business opportunities in areas of military hardware for the Indian armed forces in general. Possible areas of interest to the US aerospace industry would be air-defence radars, weather radars and C4ISR-related net-centric operations requirements for the Indian Air Force.