Lockheed Martin successfully completed the first flight test of its Next-Generation Short-Range Interceptor (NGSRI), a potential replacement for the US Army's Stinger missile system. The program aims to deliver an advanced air defense capability designed to counter unmanned aerial systems, rotary-wing aircraft, and fixed-wing threats.
Lockheed Martin has maintained its current F-35 production rate, citing a focus on economic stability. The company's vice president of aeronautics strategy and business development stated that increasing production would be 'whipsaw supply,' referring to the potential for sudden changes in demand.
Lockheed Martin has successfully demonstrated control of an uncrewed aerial system (UAS) from the cockpit of an F-22 Raptor during a flight from Nellis Air Force Base near Las Vegas. According to AeroTime, the test marks a significant step toward future air-combat concepts built around human-machine coordination.
Lockheed Martin has appointed Jeremy King as its next chief executive for Australia and New Zealand, succeeding Warren 'Macca' McDonald. According to Breaking Defense, King previously served the Australian Defence Force for over 30 years and led major capability programs such as the MRH-90 and Chinook project.
Lockheed Martin has finished production of all F-16 Block 70 aircraft for Bulgaria and Slovakia's initial fleets, according to AeroTime. The company announced the completion on December 15, 2025, noting that every aircraft has passed US government acceptance through the Foreign Military Sales program.
Lockheed Martin announced a record 191 F-35 deliveries in 2025, exceeding previous year's total by more than 70%. The company cited a backlog of jets held in storage as the primary cause.
Lockheed Martin delivered a record 191 F-35s in 2025, the highest annual total in the program's history, as more countries move to expand or introduce the fifth-generation jet into their air forces. The company reports that annual production is now running at a pace around five times higher than any other allied fighter currently in production.
Lockheed Martin has announced plans to launch a command and control software factory in Saudi Arabia, as part of Riyadh's efforts to localize defense production. The facility will introduce Lockheed's advanced software development ecosystem to the Kingdom, enabling rapid development of sovereign software applications.
Lockheed Martin has opened a new 17,000-square-foot Hypersonic System Integration Lab in Huntsville, Alabama, representing a $17.1 million investment in accelerating US Army hypersonic weapon development. The facility consolidates advanced testing, simulation, and integration capabilities to shorten development cycles for critical defense programs including the Long Range Hypersonic Weapon (Dark Eagle) and Navy's Conventional Prompt Strike missile.
Lockheed Martin has successfully tested an AI-enhanced Combat Identification (Combat ID) capability on an F-35 during a test flight at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. The company used an AI/machine learning model to resolve identification ambiguities among emitters, aiming to improve situational awareness and reduce pilot decision-making latency.
Lockheed Martin has agreed to supply the Taiwan Air Force with 55 Legion infrared search and track (IRST) pods under the US Foreign Military Sales program. The delivery strengthens the F-16 fleet's ability to detect and track airborne targets using passive sensors, addressing an urgent operational need described by the US Department of Defense.
Lockheed Martin and Diehl Defence have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to cooperate on maritime air defense capabilities. The partnership aims to explore how the firms can fuse together their systems, with a focus on enhancing air defense solutions for surface vessels.
Lockheed Martin has successfully tested an artificial intelligence feature on its F-35 Lightning fighter, designed to quickly identify unknown contacts for pilots. The system uses machine learning to resolve ID ambiguities and improve situational awareness.
Lockheed Martin has signed an agreement with the Pentagon to quadruple production of Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptors over the next seven years. The deal, worth $4 billion, will allow THAAD interceptor production to grow from its current rate of 96 missiles a year to an annual rate of 400 interceptors.
LODD Autonomous has completed the first flight of Hili, a new hybrid VTOL cargo aircraft designed, built, and tested in Abu Dhabi. The milestone marks a significant step forward for the UAE's ambitions in autonomous aviation and advanced logistics.
When British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced Turkey's purchase of 20 Eurofighter Typhoons worth roughly $10 billion, the optics were triumphal. However, for London, the sale looks like an industrial success story that masks a strategic loss.
The LongShot program, led by General Atomics, is aiming for early flight tests with its X-68A aircraft. The program, originally set to begin in December 2023, has pivoted towards a more direct approach focused on F-15 integration.
A LOT Polish Airlines Embraer E170 veered off the runway while landing at Vilnius Airport in Lithuania on November 26, 2025, amid heavy snowfall. Flight LO771 from Warsaw touched down at 13:43 local time but skidded off the paved surface while taxiing to the stand.
LOT Polish Airlines has announced an expansion to its presence in North America by launching a new route between Warsaw and San Francisco in May 2026. The airline will operate four weekly services using Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.
LOT Polish Airlines has taken delivery of three brand new Boeing 737 MAX 8 jets, which departed Seattle for Warsaw in formation flight. The aircraft feature a modern cabin interior inspired by Poland's landscape and aesthetics.