Lockheed Martin expands venture capital fund to $1 billion for national security technology development.

Lockheed Martin expands venture capital fund to $1 billion for national security technology development. Lockheed Martin Ventures has increased its investment capacity from $400 million to $1 billion, marking a 250 percent growth since its 2007 inception. The fund, led by Evan Scott, targets startups in quantum computing, autonomy, artificial intelligence, directed energy, and advanced materials. This capital infusion aims to accelerate the integration of emerging technologies into the Defense Industrial Base, building on a history of investing $500 million across 120 companies.

This expansion positions Lockheed Martin as a dominant force in defense-focused corporate venture capital, directly competing with Boeing HorizonX and RTX Ventures for access to dual-use technologies. By bridging the gap between early-stage innovation and large-scale defense procurement, the firm addresses the persistent challenge of transitioning laboratory-scale research into flight-ready hardware. The focus on advanced materials and microelectronics is particularly relevant to the additive manufacturing sector, where the firm seeks to integrate high-performance alloys and complex geometries into its aerospace supply chain to improve production efficiency and mission readiness.

For the additive manufacturing sector, this $1 billion pool provides a clear pathway for startups specializing in metal DED or LPBF processes to secure both capital and integration contracts. Companies should focus on demonstrating scalability and material qualification standards that meet stringent aerospace requirements to leverage this funding pipeline. Success will depend on the ability of these startups to move beyond prototyping and integrate directly into Lockheed Martin's established manufacturing and supply chain infrastructure.