Lockheed Martin Opens Hypersonics Integration Lab in Alabama
Lockheed Martin has opened a new Hypersonics System Integration Lab (SIL) at its Huntsville, Alabama, campus, marking a significant expansion of the company’s hypersonic defense capabilities. The 17,000-square-foot facility, representing a $17.1 million investment, is designed to accelerate system integration, simulation, and testing for critical US Army hypersonic weapon programs.
The state-of-the-art lab consolidates advanced test equipment, high-fidelity simulation environments, and system-level integration spaces under one roof. Rather than serving production functions, the SIL is purpose-built to support verification and readiness activities, enabling faster development cycles and more efficient engineering workflows.
“Lockheed Martin’s commitment to North Alabama is stronger than ever, and this new facility is a clear demonstration of that dedication,” said Jim Romero, Vice President of Hypersonic Strike Weapon Systems for Lockheed Martin Space. “Built to house advanced engineering and integration capabilities, it will play a pivotal role in positioning Lockheed Martin as the industry leader in hypersonic defense and deterrence technology.”
This investment reflects Lockheed Martin’s expanding hypersonics footprint in Alabama. In 2021, the company opened a production facility in Courtland featuring the 65,000-square-foot Hypersonic Missile Assembly Building 4, dedicated to manufacturing advanced hypersonic systems. The new integration lab complements this production capability, creating a comprehensive hypersonic ecosystem in the region.
The timing is significant as the US military accelerates efforts to field operational hypersonic weapons. The US Army plans to deploy the Long Range Hypersonic Weapon, designated Dark Eagle, by 2025. Lockheed Martin serves as the industry lead for LRHW systems integration while also supporting the US Navy’s Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) program. Both systems employ boost-glide technology, where rocket boosters accelerate vehicles to hypersonic speeds before they maneuver independently toward targets, making interception significantly more difficult.
Lockheed Martin is simultaneously developing the AGM-183 Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW) for the US Air Force. Following a successful operational prototype test on December 9, 2022, production is scheduled to begin in 2026.
Hypersonic systems, operating at speeds exceeding Mach 5, remain a top modernization priority for the Department of Defense. The strategic imperative stems from intensified competition with China in advanced strike capabilities. The new integration lab positions Lockheed Martin to accelerate development timelines while maintaining the technological edge essential for US national security and deterrence.
Source ID: SRCE-2025-1764864046394-1150