The global security landscape is evolving rapidly. From your perspective, what are the main challenges and how is Lockheed Martin responding?
Tim Cahill: Peer adversaries are pushing boundaries geographically, technologically, and strategically. To stay ahead, America and its allies must respond with swift, scalable, and precise solutions. At Lockheed Martin, we’re revolutionizing the way we design, develop, and produce missile systems by harnessing digital engineering, modular designs, and a distributed industrial base. This approach enables us to deliver affordable, cutting-edge solutions at the speed and scale required to address tomorrow’s conflicts. Importantly, this is critical not only for the United States but also for our European allies, who face similar security challenges and need proven solutions to stay ahead of emerging threats.
Tim Cahill – President of Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control
You’ve been meeting with customers around the world. What message are you hearing from them?
Their message is clear. Our customers need systems built quickly, adaptable to mission needs, and backed by a robust supplier network. Whether it’s a European ally looking to bolster their defense capabilities or a partner in the Asia-Pacific region seeking to enhance their security posture, the demand for agile, scalable and responsive systems is universal. That future is being built right now, in close partnership with our customers.
One of your programs is Rapid Dragon. Could you explain what it is and why it matters?
Rapid Dragon is a U.S. Air Force program to demonstrate the feasibility of air-launching cruise missiles and other effects from air mobility aircraft like the C-17 and C-130. For nations lacking bomber fleets, it promises to level the playing field by equipping airlifters to put mass on target, with no aircraft modifications required.
In many ways, Rapid Dragon is the model of how we are pivoting to serve our customers in a world that is moving faster; it reflects the agility and innovation warfighters deserve.
First, it uses existing assets in creative and low-cost ways to fill capability gaps, protecting the investment air forces have made in fleets and ordnance.
Second, it has moved fast and with agility. In the first 10 months, we went from concept to first flight, participating in three customer exercises along the way.
Since then, we’ve executed four live-fire missions and other exercises with partner nations ranging from Norway to Romania. An armed cruise missile deployed from a U.S. Air Force MC-130J over the Norwegian Sea flew to a designated target zone in the Arctic Circle.
Beyond Rapid Dragon, Lockheed Martin is developing CMMT. What makes this system unique?
With evolving geo-political landscapes in Europe and the Indo-Pacific, customers need a new class of low-cost missiles that can be manufactured locally, quickly and on demand. CMMT is another example of Lockheed Martin moving with agility, and a missile built for speed, scale and adaptability. This summer we flew two members of the CMMT family in representative environments. In the first test, we released a CMMT-D from a Rapid Dragon pallet, an operation never previously performed. We went from drawing board to flight in 10 months. Soon thereafter, we air-launched the smaller CMMT-X from an aircraft pylon, which completed a powered flight. CMMT-X went from retired ground test article to powered flight in seven months.
CMMT. fot. Lockheed Martin
In the context of great-power competition, how do you balance the need for speed and affordability with maintaining technological superiority and safeguarding sensitive capabilities?
We are committed to delivering innovative and effective solutions to meet the evolving needs of our customers, and we believe that industry partnerships play a critical role in achieving this goal.
An example of this collaborative approach is our partnership with the Polish defense industry, where we are working closely with local industry to develop and produce advanced capabilities, such as components for the PAC-3 MSE global supply chain. By leveraging the expertise and capabilities of Polish industry, we are not only enhancing the country’s defense capabilities but also fostering a robust and resilient defense industrial base. The Polish industry partners are supporting our demands for increased capacity and creating more supplier diversity within our supply chain. This partnership approach allows us to balance speed, affordability and technological superiority while protecting sensitive capabilities.
Through such collaborations, we are committed to supporting the national security interests of our allies, including Poland, and contributing to the development of a robust and capable European defense industrial base.
