Organisations

Lockheed Martin

Lockheed Martin is a major American aerospace and defence contractor whose Skunk Works division, spacecraft programmes, and UAP-adjacent projects have repeatedly surfaced in accounts of anomalous phenomena and advanced technology.

Lockheed Martin Skunk Works (Advanced Development Projects) · Glenn L. Martin Company · Aerospace and defence contractor

Lockheed Martin is a large American aerospace and defence contractor formed in part through the merger of the historic Glenn L. Martin Company; investigator Nick Cook researched George Trimble, a former Glenn L. Martin Company vice president, in the course of examining that lineage.¹ David Fravor has described Lockheed Martin as one of the “big three” American defence companies, alongside Northrop Grumman and Boeing.² Jim Goodall befriended Ben Rich, former director of Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, the pseudonym for the company’s secretive Advanced Development Projects division where many of America’s most advanced aircraft have been designed.³ Among its aircraft, the F-22 Raptor fighter has a top speed of 2414 kilometres per hour.⁴ In the mid-to-late 1990s Lockheed Martin worked with Boeing and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to develop the RQ-3 Dark Star unmanned aircraft,⁵ and in 2006 disclosed the existence of the P-175 Polecat at the Farnborough Airshow.⁶

Lockheed Martin was also one of two consortiums competing for NASA’s Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) contract under Project Constellation in early 2006.⁷ Its initial proposal failed to meet NASA’s requirement that the design evolve from the Apollo capsule concept,⁸ and in March 2006 NASA told the company to redesign it to more closely resemble an Apollo-style capsule similar to Northrop Grumman’s.⁹ Lockheed Martin proposed a new suite of avionics requiring extensive development, where Northrop Grumman’s proposal instead emphasised existing, proven electronics,¹⁰ and proposed its satellite division in Colorado as prime design centre despite never having built a crewed spacecraft.¹¹ When final designs were submitted in May 2006, Northrop Grumman officials were confident their proposal had surpassed Lockheed Martin’s.¹² The company had previously spent several years and nearly a billion dollars on an earlier Space Shuttle replacement effort, the X-33, without producing anything beyond quarter-scale models.¹³ Nonetheless, in August 2006 NASA announced Lockheed Martin had been awarded the Orion CEV programme.¹⁴ NASA’s stated reasons were that Lockheed Martin had promised an earlier launch and had agreed to final assembly in Florida,¹⁵ and it cited the use of circular, rather than rectangular, solar panels as a technical factor.¹⁶ At the contractor unveiling press conference it emerged that the decision had been made personally by NASA Administrator Mike Griffin rather than by a review committee.¹⁷ Researcher Richard C. Hoagland said he had predicted for weeks before the announcement that Lockheed Martin would win the contract,¹⁸ and said the circular shape of the solar panels eerily resembled the belt stars of the constellation Orion.¹⁹

Skunk Works has featured in several UAP-related accounts. Keoki Jackson is Lockheed Martin’s chief technology officer,²⁰ and in a 2020 conversation with podcast host Lex Fridman, Fravor said he had spoken with Jackson about Skunk Works.²¹ Responding in 1997 to a video of a triangular craft, Christopher K. Mellon said current and former colleagues at Lockheed Martin and Skunk Works had stated privately that if a TR3B craft exists, it was not made by Lockheed Martin.²² According to In Plain Sight, Lockheed Martin stated that Tom DeLonge reached out to Skunk Works about collaborating on a documentary focused on secret machines and advanced development projects, that several Skunk Works team members met with him to explore his vision, and that the company ultimately decided not to move forward with the project.²³ The same source reports that leaked Podesta emails contained exchanges between John Podesta and DeLonge describing a planned Google Hangout meeting between DeLonge, two US Air Force generals, and Rob Weiss, Lockheed Martin’s executive vice-president and general manager of Skunk Works.²⁴ Jason Samosa said Jacques Vallée validated an account that DeLonge made contact with an individual who worked at Skunk Works.²⁵ Under the Kona Blue proposal, assets were to be transferred from Lockheed Martin, which held UFO material, to Bigelow Aerospace.²⁶ Personnel on the Advanced Aerospace Weapon System Applications Program (AAWSAP) attempted to obtain the transfer of recovered material from Lockheed Martin outside the programme for study,²⁷ a request that CIA leadership denied.²⁸ Chris Ramsay suggested one possible explanation for matching craft descriptions is that the Billy Meier craft was authentic and the craft shown to Bob Lazar was a replica, perhaps a Lockheed Martin deep underground black military project.²⁹

At the 2024 US congressional hearing on UAPs (13 November), Luis Elizondo was asked about Lockheed Martin’s involvement with underwater projects.³⁰ Lockheed Martin’s stated area of expertise is aerospace, within the UAP space.³¹ Elizondo denied stating that Lockheed Martin would not conduct submerged operations, when asked about the company’s expertise at the hearing.³²

Lockheed Martin’s navigation team has also featured in accounts of NASA’s Mars missions: it transmitted acceleration data for the Mars Climate Orbiter probe in imperial units, while controllers at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) assumed the data was in metric units.³³ Following the loss of both Mars Climate Orbiter and Mars Polar Lander, NASA director Dan Goldin appointed a commission headed by Thomas Young, formerly of Lockheed Martin, to investigate the Mars Polar Lander disappearance and the wider Mars programme at JPL.³⁴

This article was generated from this brief.

References (34) · each quote links to the claim it came from

Nick Cook investigated George S. Trimble, a former Glenn L. Martin Company vice president, in researching the company that merged into Lockheed Martin
“He chased down an elusive scientist named George S. Trimble, a former vice president with the Glenn L. Martin Company, which eventually merged to become part of the giant Lockheed Martin Corporation.”
In Plain Sight ch28:19359-19546
David Fravor described Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, and Boeing as the big three US defence companies
“there's the big three in defense, which is really, you know, Northrop, Lockheed, and Boeing.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 02:17:17.4-02:17:22.7
Jim Goodall befriended Ben Rich, former director of Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works, the pseudonym for its Advanced Developments Projects division
“He befriended engineer Ben Rich, the former Director of US aerospace company Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works (the pseudonym for Lockheed Martin's secretive Advanced Developments Projects division, where many of America's most advanced aircraft have been designed).”
In Plain Sight ch13:13431-13709
The Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor has a top speed of 2414 kilometres per hour
“The latest high-tech Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor fighter has a top speed of (only?) 2414 km/h.”
In Plain Sight ch13:19351-19443
Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and DARPA developed the RQ-3 Dark Star in the mid-to-late 1990s
“Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and DARPA developed Dark Star in the mid-to-late 1990s.”
Report on the Historical Record of U.S. Government Involvement with Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP), Volume I char:141208-141282
Lockheed Martin disclosed the existence of the P-175 Polecat at the Farnborough Airshow in 2006
“Lockheed Martin disclosed its existence in the Farnborough Airshow in 2006.”
Report on the Historical Record of U.S. Government Involvement with Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP), Volume I char:142904-142974
Lockheed Martin was one of two aerospace consortiums working on Project Constellation proposals in early 2006
“One of the consortiums, Lockheed Marti”
Dark Mission ch19:79942-79966
Lockheed Martin's initial CEV proposal failed to meet NASA's Apollo-evolution requirement
“Lockheed had botched NASA’s initial call for “Apollo on steroids” and, rather than design an evolution of that proven concept, submitted a radical, Space Shuttle-like lifting body design.”
Dark Mission ch19:80455-80635
In March 2006 NASA told Lockheed Martin to redesign its CEV proposal to resemble an Apollo-style capsule
“NASA was unimpressed with their approach, and at a preliminary design review in March told the contractor to go back to the drawing board and produce an Apollo-style capsule more closely resembling Northrop’s concept.”
Dark Mission ch19:80643-80852
Lockheed Martin proposed new, unproven avionics while Northrop Grumman emphasised existing, proven electronics
“Lockheed had proposed a new suite of avionics that would require extensive technological development, while Northrop’s emphasized existing proven electronics.”
Dark Mission ch19:82402-82548
Lockheed Martin proposed its Colorado satellite division as prime design centre despite never having built a crewed spacecraft
“Lockheed also proposed using their satellite division in Colorado as the prime design center, and they had never built a manned spacecraft before.”
Dark Mission ch19:82561-82700
When final designs were submitted in May 2006, Northrop Grumman officials were confident they had surpassed Lockheed Martin
“As the final designs were submitted in May 2006, Northrop officials were confident their proposal had surpassed the Lockheed Martin design.”
Dark Mission ch19:82709-82841
Lockheed Martin spent years and nearly a billion dollars on the X-33 without producing anything beyond quarter-scale models
“they had a dismal track record with an earlier Shuttle replacement Project, called “the X-33.” Lockheed had spent several years and nearly a billion dollars on the X-33, and never produced anything but some quarter scale models to show for it.”
Dark Mission ch19:82948-83188
In August 2006 NASA announced Lockheed Martin had been awarded the Orion CEV programme
“the final shock came in late August... that *Lockheed* had been awarded the Orion “Apollo on steroids” CEV Program.”
Dark Mission ch19:86161-86284
NASA's stated reasons were an earlier launch promise and final assembly in Florida
“NASA’s formal reasons were not immediately clear, except that Lockheed had promised to launch sooner and agreed to do final assembly in Florida.”
Dark Mission ch19:86476-86612
NASA cited Orion's circular, rather than rectangular, solar panels as a technical factor
“There were some technical reasons given, like the fact that Lockheed’s design had “circular” solar panels rather than rectangular ones, but these seemed more like excuses than reasons”
Dark Mission ch19:86621-86797
The final Orion decision was made personally by NASA Administrator Mike Griffin, not a review committee
“At the official “contractor unveiling” press conference, it was also learned that the final decision for Lockheed’s design had been made by new NASA Administrator Mike Griffin himself rather than any “review committee.””
Dark Mission ch19:87131-87339
Richard C. Hoagland said he had predicted for weeks that Lockheed Martin would win the Orion contract
“the final shock came in late August, when NASA surprisingly announced (well, not that surprisingly; Hoagland had correctly been predicting *for weeks* what was going to take place, which his co-author *steadfastly* refused to believe …) that *Lockheed* had been awarded the Orion “Apollo on steroids” CEV Program.”
Dark Mission ch19:86161-86466
Hoagland said the circular solar panels eerily resembled the belt stars of the constellation Orion
“unless, of course, you quietly noticed the eerie resemblance of the Lockheed “Orion” panels to the look and placement of the actual “belt stars” in the constellation of *Orion*”
Dark Mission ch19:86806-86976
Keoki Jackson is Lockheed Martin's chief technology officer
“i talked to cto of lockheed uh keiko jackson”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 03:16:41.1-03:16:43.6
David Fravor spoke with Keoki Jackson about Lockheed Skunk Works
“i talked to cto of lockheed uh keiko jackson and just just kunkworks”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 03:16:41.1-03:16:45.0
Christopher Mellon said colleagues at Lockheed Martin and Skunk Works stated privately that a TR3B craft, if real, is not built by Lockheed Martin
“Mellon says, 'My current and former colleagues at Lockheed Martin and the Skunk Works are very clear in private settings that if there is a TR3B it is not made by Lockheed.”
In Plain Sight ch28:10916-11079
Lockheed Martin stated Tom DeLonge sought a documentary collaboration with Skunk Works, which it declined to join
“'Tom DeLonge reached out to Skunk Works with interest in collaborating on a documentary focused on secret machines and advanced development projects,' Lockheed Martin said in a statement. 'Multiple members of the Skunk Works team met with DeLonge to explore his vision for the documentary, as we would with any individual or organisation interested in telling the story of Skunk Works and the technologies we've developed. We ultimately decided to not move forward with our participation in the documentary. During this exploration period, DeLonge attended a Skunk Works employee event.'”
In Plain Sight ch18:15278-15884
Leaked Podesta emails described a planned Google Hangout with DeLonge, two Air Force generals, and Skunk Works' Rob Weiss
“Amidst them was a smoking gun that lent strong support to DeLonge's extraordinary claims: a string of exchanges between Podesta and DeLonge, revealing plans for a Google Hangout meeting between DeLonge, two US Air Force generals and Rob Weiss, the Lockheed Martin executive vice-president and general manager of its advanced development programs known as Skunk Works.”
In Plain Sight ch20:4492-4853
Jason Samosa said Jacques Vallée validated an account of DeLonge contacting a Skunk Works employee
“But Vallee, Jacques Vallee, validates the original story, which is that DeLonge had made contact with someone who worked at Lockheed Martin Skunk Works.”
The UFO Cover-Up Leads to One Secret Society — and One Final Event 00:35:32.8-00:35:41.0
Under the Kona Blue proposal, assets held by Lockheed Martin were to be transferred to Bigelow Aerospace
“Kona Blue, and this idea that we were transferring assets between Lockheed Martin, who had UFO material to Bigelow aerospace”
The UFO Cover-Up Leads to One Secret Society — and One Final Event 00:55:12.6-00:55:18.8
AAWSAP personnel attempted to obtain transfer of recovered material from Lockheed Martin
“They were actually trying to get Lockheed Martin to transfer material to them outside the program for study, kind of outside the onion, so to speak.”
David Grusch: The Whistleblower Who Told Congress We're Not Alone 00:48:43.3-00:48:52.0
CIA leadership denied the request to transfer that material to AAWSAP
“But CIA leadership denied that.”
David Grusch: The Whistleblower Who Told Congress We're Not Alone 00:48:52.4-00:48:54.9
Chris Ramsay suggested the craft shown to Bob Lazar could have been a Lockheed Martin deep underground black project replica
“the craft that Bob was shown was like a replica of that, right? Perhaps some Lockheed Martin, deep underground black military project.”
Revealing The Nordic Alien Prophecies - Michael Horn | DEBRIEFED ep. 92 00:18:57.0-00:19:05.7
Luis Elizondo was asked at the 13 November 2024 hearing about Lockheed Martin's involvement with underwater projects
“Lou was also asked about Lockheed Martin's involvement with underwater projects and it got very dicey, very cagey, very quickly.”
UAPs in Washington - I wasn't supposed to be there.. 00:14:51.6-00:15:05.0
Lockheed Martin's stated area of expertise is aerospace, within the UAP space
“What's Lockheed's expertise? Aerospace, ma'am. In the UAP space, that's all.”
UAPs in Washington - I wasn't supposed to be there.. 00:15:06.3-00:15:10.5
Elizondo denied stating that Lockheed Martin would not conduct submerged operations
“They wouldn't do submerged. ... No, I didn't say that, ma'am.”
UAPs in Washington - I wasn't supposed to be there.. 00:15:10.7-00:15:15.0
Lockheed Martin's navigation team sent Mars Climate Orbiter data in imperial units while JPL assumed metric
“The Lockheed/Martin team transmitted acceleration data in the English system, and controllers at JPL assumed that it was metric.”
Dark Mission ch14:11805-11926
Dan Goldin appointed a commission led by former Lockheed Martin figure Thomas Young after the Mars Climate Orbiter and Mars Polar Lander losses
“NASA director Dan Goldin appointed a commission headed by Thomas Young, formerly of Lockheed Martin, to investigate not only the MPL disappearance but also the entire Mars program at JPL.”
Dark Mission ch14:19068-19251

Lockheed Martin

Language