General Motors’ defense subsidiary, GM Defense, and weapons maker Lockheed Martin have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to collaborate on a domestic manufacturing initiative that will strengthen the defense industrial base in the U.S.
GM is no stranger to defense. It has been involved since World War I, when it pivoted its manufacturing facilities to produce vehicles, engines, aircraft, and ammunition for the war efforts.
The arrangement comes in the wake of President Trump invoking the voluntary agreement provision under the Defense Production Act, which allows the federal government to work with companies “to help provide for the national defense.” The Department of Defense backed the deal.
Together, the two companies will combine expertise, Lockheed’s defense production capacity, and GM Defense’s advanced industrial capabilities and higher production rates in commercial manufacturing and engineering, though plans have yet to be fully disclosed. Over the coming weeks, the companies are expected to identify initial projects to pursue to meet the growing demand for increased production capacity in the defense supply chain. The goal is to accelerate production capacity while maintaining quality and performance standards that meet the needs of the sector.
“America’s security depends not only on developing advanced technologies, but on our ability to produce them quickly, reliably and at scale,” Lockheed COO Frank St. John said in a statement.
Voluntary agreements like these are a way for the Department of Defense to work with the industry to address specific pain points by bringing industry expertise together to solve them in an open and competitive way. More voluntary agreements are expected as the demand for weapons continues to grow.
