Enhancing Deterrence, Interoperability and NATO Readiness Through a Resilient Global Supply Chain

In today's complex security environment, upholding a strong defense and deterrence posture requires more than advanced technology-it demands an interoperable supply chain that is agile, resilient and deeply interconnected with industry partners, suppliers and manufacturers worldwide. For Lockheed Martin, ensuring mission readiness doesn't stop when a system is delivered to the field; it continues through the sustainment lifecycle, supported by robust industry collaboration and a global supply chain network.

Sustainment as a Strategic Enabler ___

Sustainment is the backbone of long-term mission success and a key pillar of operational flexibility for NATO and allied countries. From spare parts to software updates, keeping systems mission-ready requires continuous investment in supply and sustainment forecasting, affordability engineering and lifecycle support. Last year, Lockheed Martin and Aerostar S.A. inaugurated Europe's first HIMARS Sustainment Center. The new facility not only boosts operational readiness for Romanian and NATO partner-operated HIMARS, but it also enhances Romania's defense industrial base and economy, reinforcing a deterrence posture across the region.

A Global Supply Chain that Scales with the Mission ___

With operations spanning numerous countries, Lockheed Martin relies on a secure, diversified and transparent supply chain to deliver critical capabilities on time to NATO allies and regional partners, ensuring collective deterrence and readiness. This network includes trusted suppliers, small businesses and international partners who bring innovation and capacity to meet urgent demands. By leveraging advanced digital tools and supply chain analytics, Lockheed Martin and its global supply chain partners can anticipate challenges, mitigate disruptions and accelerate deliveries to where they're needed most.

Industry Partnerships Driving Performance ___

No single entity can deliver readiness alone. Lockheed Martin works closely with industry peers, subcontractors and allied defense enterprises to strengthen capacity and ensure supply chain resilience. These partnerships not only expand industrial capability but also strengthen NATO interoperability, essential for joint and coalition operations that underpin defense deterrence and regional stability.

This year, Lockheed Martin signed a significant industrial cooperation agreement with the Spanish Ministry of Defense that will increase PAC-3 MSE global supply chain resilience and provide European customers with the tools to meet their NATO commitments. By cultivating long-term relationships across the defense industrial base, Lockheed Martin helps to create new business opportunities on both sides of the Atlantic and a shared foundation of reliability and trust.

Engaging at Defense Industry Days ___

Strengthening the global supply chain isn't just about contracts and facilities-it's about collaboration with local expertise. Lockheed Martin actively participates in partner-nation defense industry days, bringing together suppliers and small businesses to explore opportunities that are often critical for allied defense. Industry days are a vital forum for Lockheed Martin to:

• Identify new suppliers and capabilities-from advanced materials to digital engineering tools, and even up-skill supplier capabilities.

• Promote transparency around upcoming allied defense requirements and sustainment needs, supporting a unified NATO deterrence posture.

• Foster innovation by connecting with non-traditional defense partners.

• Build resiliency by diversifying the industrial base and reducing single-point dependencies, strengthening NATO's collective supply-chain security.

By collaborating with global supply chain partners, Lockheed Martin integrates European industry into its worldwide network, expanding the European source base. These partnerships strengthen overall supply chain resiliency, as European firms provide components for Lockheed Martin systems delivered to the U.S. government and allied nations. This boosts European economies, enables valuable technology transfers and creates enduring, mutually beneficial relationships for European suppliers.

Investing in the Future of the Global Supply Chain ___

At this critical geopolitical point, Lockheed Martin is not just meeting significantly increased demand, but it is also leading the defense industry into the future. The company is utilizing model-based engineering, investing in advanced manufacturing and working closely with suppliers to up-skill their capabilities and create a shared digital footprint. Lockheed Martin is also leveraging digital twins to enable access to real-time data, anticipate disruptions and trending poor performance earlier in the process - ensuring rapid response capability that underpins NATO deterrence and operational flexibility. These innovations help further reduce sustainment costs, shorten repair cycles and safeguard the flow of critical components.

"Every mission is built on readiness, which is the foundation of deterrence" said Brian O'Connor, vice president of Global Supply at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. "That means delivering not only cutting-edge systems but also ensuring they remain operational, reliable and available for the long haul. Our global supply chain and sustainment enterprise is key to that mission."