Lockheed opens Rapid Fielding
Lockheed Martin launched a Rapid Fielding Center to compress concept‑to‑prototype timelines and speed testing of defense tech, including propulsion and simulation workflows. The facility is framed around rapid prototyping, digital threads and AI‑enabled development to shorten fielding cycles (prnewswire.com).
Lockheed Martin formally opened the Rapid Fielding Center in Dallas on March 31, 2026. (news.lockheedmartin.com) Randy Crites, vice president of Lockheed Martin Advanced Programs, called the Rapid Fielding Center a showcase of the company's "innovation, speed and a relentless customer focus." (news.lockheedmartin.com) Lockheed described the center as integrated with the manufacturing floor to place prototypes next to advanced production equipment and skilled tradespeople for immediate design feedback. (news.lockheedmartin.com) The company said it has invested more than $7 billion since President Trump’s first term and roughly $2 billion specifically to accelerate munitions production, while planning a multibillion-dollar investment over the next three years to modernize more than 20 facilities across Arkansas, Alabama, Florida, Massachusetts and Texas. (news.lockheedmartin.com) The Rapid Fielding Center aligns with the Department of Defense’s rapid fielding objectives under the MTA pathway, which targets beginning production within six months and completing fielding within five years of program start. (aaf.dau.edu) Lockheed has been expanding related test infrastructure, opening a 17,000-square-foot Hypersonics System Integration Lab in Huntsville in December 2025 to accelerate system integration and simulation work. (aerotime.aero) Earlier this year Lockheed partnered with GE Aerospace on engine tests demonstrating a liquid-fueled rotating detonation ramjet, a propulsion technology Lockheed says it is advancing with industry partners. (geaerospace.com)
