How Lockheed Martin Plans to Help Defence Companies Adopt AI

The defence industry’s adoption of AI continues to accelerate, driven by increased competition in autonomous systems and the need to process growing volumes of sensor data. This shift has created demand for AI systems that meet military-grade security requirements while maintaining the adaptability of commercial technology.

Lockheed Martin, the world’s largest defence contractor by revenue, has established a new subsidiary focused on AI deployment across the defence industrial base and regulated commercial sectors.

The move reflects wider changes in how defence contractors approach AI development. Rather than building closed systems, companies now seek to combine commercial AI capabilities with military-grade security protocols, allowing faster deployment while maintaining compliance with defence regulations.

The new unit, named Astris AI, will provide access to Lockheed Martin’s machine learning operations (MLOps) software and generative AI (Gen AI) platforms, and represents the latest addition to Lockheed Martin’s Evolve portfolio, which develops commercial ventures to support defence industry capabilities.

Lockheed Martin brings defence AI tools to commercial market

The company’s AI Factory platform, which provides the foundation for Astris AI’s offerings, includes MLOps capabilities developed specifically for organisations operating under stringent security requirements. The platform enables companies to develop and deploy AI models while maintaining compliance with defence industry regulations.

The systems use an open architecture approach, meaning they can integrate with existing software systems and be modified to meet specific requirements. This architectural choice allows defence contractors and regulated industries to adapt the platforms as security requirements evolve.

Mike Baylor, Chief Digital and AI Officer at Lockheed Martin, will oversee the technical infrastructure supporting Astris AI, working alongside Greg Forrest, who directs the company’s AI Foundations division.

The technology transfer from Lockheed Martin to Astris AI includes Gen AI platforms specifically designed for high-assurance environments, where reliability and security requirements exceed standard commercial applications.

Astris AI targets growing skills gap in defence technology

The launch comes as defence contractors face challenges in recruiting AI specialists. Astris AI aims to address this shortage by providing access to Lockheed Martin’s existing AI engineering teams.

The new subsidiary will offer consulting services covering MLOps strategy, implementation support, and model development. These services are designed to help organisations establish their own AI capabilities while maintaining control over their data and systems.

The consulting division will focus on end-to-end AI engineering services, including training programmes for organisations seeking to develop internal AI capabilities. This approach aims to enable clients to maintain autonomy over their AI implementations while accessing specialist expertise.

Greg Forrest, Director of AI Foundations at Lockheed Martin, says: “Lockheed Martin has made significant strides in AI/ML, and we're excited to apply these advancements to support our customers and help strengthen the defense industrial base.”

The subsidiary will be led by Donna O’Donnell as Chief Revenue Officer, who previously served as global vice president of AI and intelligent automation sales at Xerox, the document management and technology company. At Xerox, she managed global automation sales operations, delivering solutions in intelligent automation, robotic process automation and machine learning.

The formation of Astris AI comes as part of Lockheed Martin's broader strategy to advance what it terms “21st Century Security,” which focuses on integrating commercial technologies with defence applications.

The new unit will operate as part of Lockheed Martin’s commercial technology division, while maintaining the security standards required for defence industry applications. This structure aims to facilitate technology transfer between commercial and defence sectors while maintaining necessary security protocols.

“Astris AI is perfectly positioned to deliver AI/MLOps solutions across industries,” says Donna O’Donnell. “By combining Lockheed Martin’s expertise with Astris AI’s agile approach, we're enabling organisations to navigate the complexities of the rapidly-evolving technology landscape with high assurance AI solutions that deliver secure and reliable interactions, compliance and responsible decision-making.”

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