Defense & Military
Lockheed Martin and Hadrian Launch Factory-as-a-Service for Missile Production
Lockheed Martin teams with Hadrian to integrate automated manufacturing cells and boost production of defense missiles including PAC-3 MSE and GMLRS.
This article is based on an official press release from Lockheed Martin.
Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) has announced a strategic collaboration with manufacturing technology company Hadrian to integrate advanced automated production capabilities directly into its supply chain. According to a press release issued on December 8, 2025, the two companies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to deploy Hadrian’s “Factory-as-a-Service” model within a Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control (MFC) facility.
The partnership aims to accelerate the production of critical defense munitions, specifically targeting high-demand systems such as the PAC-3 MSE (Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhancement), THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense), PrSM (Precision Strike Missile), and GMLRS (Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System). By embedding Hadrian’s software-defined manufacturing cells directly into Lockheed Martin’s operations, the defense giant seeks to overcome supply chain bottlenecks and meet surging global demand.
This collaboration represents a departure from traditional defense procurement, where prime contractors typically outsource component manufacturing to external machine shops. Instead, Lockheed Martin is effectively “insourcing” Hadrian’s autonomous manufacturing capabilities.
According to the announcement, Hadrian will install a scalable, automated manufacturing cell at the customer’s site. This cell includes Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines and robotics, all governed by Hadrian’s proprietary operating system, “Opus.”
The core of this innovation is the Opus software, which automates the end-to-end manufacturing workflow. Hadrian claims this system manages everything from quoting and scheduling to tool path generation and quality inspection. Data provided in the accompanying research report indicates that this approach allows for the production of precision parts up to 10 times faster and 40% more efficiently than legacy machine shops.
Tom Carrubba, Vice President of Production Operations at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, emphasized the operational impact of this technology in the company’s statement:
“This project is a key enabler for Lockheed Martin to increase production output capacity, ensuring we can meet the high demand for our customers’ munitions needs.”
The integration of Hadrian’s technology comes as Lockheed Martin faces significant pressure to ramp up production rates for key weapon systems. The company is currently executing a plan to increase PAC-3 MSE production to 650 missiles per year by 2027, up from approximately 500 in 2024. Similarly, production for the GMLRS is being pushed toward a target of 14,000 rockets annually. Chris Power, CEO of Hadrian, framed the partnership as a critical step in revitalizing the American industrial base. Power, who founded Hadrian in 2020 to address supply chain fragility, stated:
“America cannot afford to lose another generation of industrial capacity… We’re building the factories that will secure American leadership.”
The automated cells are designed to handle approximately 80-90% of manual tasks, such as machine programming and part inspection. This automation is intended to mitigate workforce shortages, specifically the lack of skilled machinists, that have historically constrained the U.S. defense industrial base.
We view this collaboration as a significant indicator of the evolving relationship between traditional “Prime” contractors and the emerging “defense tech” sector. Historically, large defense firms have been slow to modernize legacy manufacturing processes. However, Lockheed Martin’s “1LMX” digital transformation initiative suggests a strategic pivot toward software-defined manufacturing.
By adopting a “Factory-as-a-Service” model, Lockheed Martin is acknowledging that software expertise is as critical to modern warfare logistics as the hardware itself. If successful, this model could set a precedent for how major defense contractors manage their supply chains, moving away from fragmented networks of small suppliers toward centralized, automated production hubs embedded within their own facilities.
What is the “Factory-as-a-Service” model? Which weapons systems will benefit from this deal? Who is Hadrian?
Lockheed Martin Partners with Hadrian to Deploy “Factory-as-a-Service” for Missile Production
The “Factory-as-a-Service” Model
Software-Defined Efficiency
Meeting Urgent Production Targets
AirPro News Analysis
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a business model where a technology provider (Hadrian) installs and manages a self-contained, automated manufacturing cell inside a client’s facility (Lockheed Martin), rather than the client buying the machines or outsourcing the work entirely.
The collaboration is focused on increasing production for the PAC-3 MSE, THAAD, PrSM, and GMLRS systems.
Hadrian is a manufacturing technology startup founded in 2020. The company recently raised $260 million in Series C funding in July 2025 and is backed by investors including Founders Fund and Andreessen Horowitz.
Sources
Photo Credit: Lockheed Martin