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Lockheed Martin

ApplicationBethesda, MD, USAFounded 1995· One of 686 Application companies tracked by AMPulse

Integrates additive manufacturing across aerospace and defense production to reduce lead times by up to 90% and part counts by 80% for components like F-35 simulator cockpits, using large-format metal and polymer systems.

CEO / Founder
James Taiclet
Team Size
10000+
Stage
Established

Technology & Products

Key Products

F-35 Lightning II components; F-16 Fighting Falcon parts; C-130 Hercules structures; Missile systems; Space systems; Hypersonic vehicle components

Technological Advantage

Verified advantage: 99.7% density in metal LPBF parts vs industry 98.5%, with 3x faster build speeds (120 cm³/hr) for titanium aerospace brackets. Defensible via 50+ AM patents and trade secrets in material formulations.

Patent position

Lockheed Martin filed 9 patent families in 2022-2024, down from 10 in 2019-2021, falling 10% versus a 29% fall in tracked AM filings in the same patent offices; its Materials share rose from 50% to 67%. AMPulse analysis

Filing momentum
9 families filed 2022–2024, 10 in 2019–2021 (-10%); all tracked AM filings in the same offices -29%
Focus, 2019–2021 → 2022–2024
Materials 50% → 67%
Filed in
US 58%EP 26%JP 8%WO 6%CN 5%
Named competitors, AM patent families
Northrop Grumman 76RTX 90

66 AM patent families in total. Recent years are still being published, so read a filing change against the same-office figure.

Differentiation

Value Proposition

Reduces aerospace component production lead times from 18 months to 6 weeks and cuts part counts by 80%, lowering supply chain risk and enabling on-demand spare parts with 40% cost savings per unit.

How They Differentiate

3x faster build speed than EOS M290 (120 cm³/hr vs 40 cm³/hr) at 30% lower cost-per-part for titanium brackets; 80% part count reduction vs traditional manufacturing; semi-truck-sized build volume unmatched by competitors.

Market & Competition

Target Customers

U.S. Department of Defense, allied governments, aerospace primes, defense contractors

Industry Verticals

Aerospace; Defense; Space; Government

Competitors

Boeing; Northrop Grumman; RTX

Growth & Milestones

Growth Metrics

Revenue grew 5% YoY to $75B in 2024; backlog reached $176B; additive manufacturing capacity expanded with 16,000 sq ft Texas facility.

Major Milestones

1995: Merger forming Lockheed Martin; 2013: First F-35 delivery with AM components; 2022: Doubled venture fund to $400M; 2024: Opened 16,000 sq ft AM facility in Texas; 2025: Reported 6% sales growth and $194B backlog

Notable Customers

U.S. Department of Defense; U.S. Air Force; U.S. Navy; NASA; Allied governments (e.g., UK, Japan, Australia)

https://www.lockheedmartin.com

Recent coverage of Lockheed Martin

AM patents

AM-relevant patents linked to this company.

Patents
72
Granted
34
Families
66

Leading domains: process (67), material (44), equipment (37)

Filings by year: 2025: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 3

  1. METAL-FREE MONOLITHIC EPITAXIAL GRAPHENE-ON-DIAMOND PWB WITH OPTICAL WAVEGUIDE03065515 · EP
  2. Integrated multi-chamber heat exchanger10371462 · US
  3. Collapsible spar mandrel11932381 · US
  4. PIPE ASSEMBLY COMPRISING CELLULAR STRUCTURE WITH VARYING DENSITY03750791 · EP
  5. INK COMPOSITION, METHOD FOR FORMING A CONDUCTIVE MEMBER, AND CONDUCTIVE DEVICE03519510 · EP

Equipment deals on record

Publicly disclosed purchases or installs only.

All equipment activity