Lockheed Martin Opens New Facility at Huntsville for Next Generation Interceptor Development

Lockheed Martin inaugurated its new $18 million engineering facility, labs, and demonstration center in Huntsville.

The 122,000-square-foot complex is designed to accommodate 500 employees, focusing on advancing national security capabilities and fostering innovation in North Alabama, with specific projects including the development of the Black Hawk helicopter, Long Range Hypersonic Weapon, and Next Generation Interceptor (NGI). In April, Lockheed Martin secured a $17 billion multi-year contract from the Missile Defense Agency to develop the NGI, aimed at modernizing the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense program. This network of radars, anti-ballistic missiles, and other equipment is designed to protect the country from intercontinental ballistic missiles.

This facility is poised to support military operations across land, sea, air, space, and cyber domains.

Key projects at the new site include readiness and sustainment efforts for the U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter, advancements in the Missile Defense Agency’s Command and Control, Battle Management and Communications (C2BMC) system, and support for the Ballistic Missile Defense System through modeling and simulation frameworks.

Additionally, the site will bolster Lockheed Martin's 1LMX digital transformation initiative aimed at optimizing engineering tools and improving the delivery of critical capabilities. A notable feature of the new facility is the Rotary Wing Innovation Center, which includes a modernized Sikorsky Black Hawk mission simulator and next-generation capability simulation tools. This center is intended to provide the Army with an interactive vision for the future of the Black Hawk helicopter and serve as a collaborative space for military, government, and industry stakeholders.

Other programs managed in Huntsville include the Long Range Hypersonic Weapon, Next Generation Interceptor, Javelin Weapon System, and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD).