This article is based on an official press release and campaign materials from Lockheed Martin, along with official Department of War announcements.

Lockheed Martin Unveils “Seconds to Act” Strategy to Support “Golden Dome” Initiative

On February 23, 2026, Lockheed Martin formally launched its “Seconds to Act” campaign, a strategic initiative designed to position the aerospace giant as the primary architect of the United States’ new “Golden Dome” missile defense shield. The announcement comes amidst a significant restructuring of national defense priorities, following the renaming of the Department of Defense to the Department of War (DoW) and the implementation of aggressive new acquisition strategies.

The central premise of the “Seconds to Act” doctrine is that modern hypersonic and autonomous threats leave defenders with insufficient time for human-speed decision-making. According to Lockheed Martin, the solution lies in a fully Integrated Air-and-Missile-Defense (IAMD) architecture that utilizes AI to connect assets across space, air, land, and sea instantly.

This corporate strategy aligns directly with the federal government’s “Golden Dome” initiative, established via Executive Order in early 2025 to create a comprehensive multi-layer shield over the continental United States.

The Integrated Shield: Connecting Domains

Lockheed Martin describes the new defense architecture as a “seamless, layered fabric.” Unlike legacy systems where platforms operated in isolation, the “Seconds to Act” framework relies on the immediate fusion of data from “sensors, shooters, and command nodes.”

According to campaign materials released by the company, the shield operates across four distinct domains:

• Space (The Watchtower): Utilizing SBIRS and Next-Gen OPIR satellites for “always-on” early warning, alongside a new transport layer to track hypersonic glide vehicles.
• Air (The Mobile Sensor): Re-characterizing the F-35 Lightning II not merely as a fighter jet, but as a forward-deployed ISR platform that feeds targeting data into the wider network.
• Land (The Shield): Deploying the Next Generation Interceptor (NGI) for homeland defense against ICBMs, supported by THAAD and PAC-3 systems for regional threats.
• Command (The Brain): Leveraging JADC2 and AI analytics to automate the “sensor-to-shooter” loop, allowing for engagement decisions to be made in seconds.

“We don’t just build individual platforms, we help orchestrate an integrated air-and-missile-defense (IAMD) architecture from Space to Seabed, built to protect today, while outpacing the threats of tomorrow.”

, Paul Pfahler, Sr. Manager for Strategy and Business Development, Lockheed Martin

Industrial Surge: Quadrupling Production

To support the “Golden Dome” and meet the demands of the Department of War’s new Acquisition Transformation Strategy, Lockheed Martin has committed to a massive expansion of its Manufacturing capabilities. Official agreements signed between the company and the DoW in early 2026 outline specific production targets intended to stabilize the industrial base through multi-year Contracts.

According to official announcements referenced in the campaign launch, the production surge includes:

• THAAD Interceptors: Production will quadruple from 96 to 400 interceptors per year.
• PAC-3 MSE: Capacity will triple, reaching 2,000 rounds per year.

To facilitate this growth, the company has broken ground on a new “Munitions Acceleration Center” in Camden, Arkansas. This facility is specifically designed to handle the increased throughput required by the new federal mandates.

“We will stabilize demand signals. We will award companies bigger, longer contracts for proven systems so those companies will be confident in investing more.”

, Pete Hegseth, Secretary of War

Strategic Context: The Department of War

The launch of “Seconds to Act” occurs against a backdrop of significant changes in the U.S. military establishment. In September 2025, an Executive Order officially renamed the Department of Defense to the Department of War (DoW). This semantic shift signals a move toward a more “offensive” and “warrior-focused” ethos within the Pentagon, now reflected in official contracts and documentation.

The “Golden Dome” initiative, estimated by the White House to cost approximately $175 billion, represents the flagship program of this new era. However, the program faces scrutiny regarding its cost and technical feasibility. Independent estimates from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) suggest the total cost could range from $161 billion to over $500 billion, depending on the final architecture of the space-based components.

AirPro News Analysis

The rebranding of the Department of Defense to the Department of War is more than cosmetic; it appears to be driving a fundamental shift in procurement speed. By moving to multi-year “framework agreements” that guarantee high production volumes, the administration is attempting to solve the supply chain fragility that plagued the defense sector in the early 2020s.

Lockheed Martin’s “Seconds to Act” campaign is a direct response to this shift. By emphasizing AI-driven speed and integration over individual platform performance, the company is aligning its marketing with the DoW’s urgent focus on hypersonics and autonomous swarms. The explicit inclusion of the F-35 as a “sensor node” in missile defense architecture also suggests a push to integrate tactical air assets more deeply into strategic homeland defense roles than ever before.

FAQ

What is the “Golden Dome”?

The “Golden Dome” is a comprehensive missile defense initiative launched by the Trump Administration in 2025. It aims to create a multi-layered shield protecting the continental U.S. from ballistic and hypersonic missiles.

Why was the Department of Defense renamed?

In September 2025, an Executive Order renamed the agency to the Department of War (DoW). The administration stated this change was intended to signal a shift toward a more offensive, warfighting-centric mindset.

What are the key production increases announced?

Under new agreements, Lockheed Martin will quadruple THAAD interceptor production to 400 per year and triple PAC-3 MSE production to 2,000 per year.

Sources: Lockheed Martin

This article is based on an official press release from QinetiQ and Additive Manufacturing Solutions (AMS) Ltd.

UK Achieves World First: Helicopters Flies with Structural Parts Made from Recycled Titanium

In a significant breakthrough for sustainable aerospace Manufacturing and Supply-Chain independence, British defense technology company QinetiQ, in partnership with Additive Manufacturing Solutions (AMS) Ltd., has successfully flown a helicopter equipped with a structural component 3D-printed entirely from recycled titanium. The flight, conducted at MoD Boscombe Down in Wiltshire, marks what the companies believe to be a world first for a structural aircraft part manufactured using recycled titanium powder.

The project addresses two critical challenges facing the modern aerospace industry: the urgent need to decarbonize manufacturing and the strategic necessity of securing raw material supply chains against geopolitical instability. According to the announcement made on February 17, 2026, the new manufacturing process reduces carbon emissions by over 90% compared to traditional methods while offering a viable path to end reliance on titanium imports from nations such as Russia and China.

The Milestone Flight

The test flight utilized a QinetiQ-owned Agusta A109S helicopter. The specific component tested was a structural hinge used on the aircraft’s Air Data Boom, a critical device responsible for measuring airspeed and altitude. While 3D printing (additive manufacturing) has been used in aerospace for some time, the use of high-grade titanium powder derived entirely from scrap metal for a structural application represents a major leap forward.

QinetiQ led the design, integration, and flight testing phases of the project, while AMS Ltd., an SME based in Burscough, Lancashire, handled the material processing and manufacturing. The initiative builds upon the R2AM2 project (Recycling and Reuse of Aerospace Materials for Additive Manufacturing), which received funding from Innovate UK.

Engineering a Circular Economy

The core innovation driving this success is the ability to convert “swarf”, the scrap metal debris generated during machining, and retired aircraft parts into high-quality feedstock for 3D printers. AMS Ltd. employs a proprietary process to recycle this scrap into powder suitable for Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF).

According to technical data released by the partners, this process achieves 97% material efficiency, meaning nearly all scrap metal input is successfully converted into usable new material. Furthermore, the environmental benefits are substantial. The recycled titanium process reportedly reduces carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emissions by 93.5% compared to the energy-intensive mining and refining required for “virgin” titanium.

“AMS has tirelessly built momentum and expertise within the additive powder market, with a sharp focus on providing recycled feedstocks. This milestone reflects the dedication of our team and QinetiQ’s commitment to a more resilient and sustainable future.”

, Rob Higham, CEO, AMS Ltd.

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Strategic Independence and Supply Chain Security

Beyond the environmental credentials, this technology offers a strategic lifeline for the UK defense and aerospace sectors. Titanium is a notorious bottleneck in Western supply chains, with Russia (via VSMPO-AVISMA) and China historically dominating the global market for titanium sponge and forged products.

By validating a process that turns domestic scrap into flight-critical components, the UK could theoretically become self-sufficient in aerospace-grade titanium. AMS Ltd. estimates that by systematically recycling material from retired aircraft and manufacturing waste, the UK could eliminate its need for raw titanium imports entirely.

Simon Galt, Managing Director Air at QinetiQ, emphasized the dual benefits of the project in a press statement:

“Our testing and engineering expertise is helping to prove the technology which will reduce the UK’s dependency on other nations for aerospace grade titanium. Not only are we helping to strengthen UK supply chains, we are also leading the rest of the world in the very latest 3D printing technology.”

, Simon Galt, Managing Director Air, QinetiQ

AirPro News Analysis

The successful flight of the Agusta A109S with recycled parts is more than a technical curiosity; it is a proof-of-concept for the “circular economy” in defense. Historically, military and aerospace equipment has been viewed as a sunk cost at the end of its life. This project suggests that retired airframes should instead be viewed as strategic stockpiles of high-grade raw materials.

We note that this development aligns with broader industry movements, such as the DECSAM project (Digitally Enabled Competitive & Sustainable Additive Manufacturing). Led by Airbus and involving partners like the University of Sheffield and AMS Ltd., this £38 million initiative aims to scale up sustainable additive manufacturing by 2028. The involvement of major academic and industrial players suggests that the technology demonstrated by QinetiQ is moving rapidly from research to industrial application.

If the UK can scale this recycling capability, it will insulate its defense industry from the price volatility and political leverage associated with foreign titanium suppliers. However, the challenge will now shift to Certification. Proving that a recycled part works on a test flight is the first step; proving to regulators that recycled powder maintains consistent fatigue properties across thousands of flight hours will be the hurdle for mass adoption.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the primary benefit of using recycled titanium?
The primary benefits are twofold: environmental and strategic. It reduces carbon emissions by approximately 93.5% compared to mining new titanium, and it allows the UK to produce high-grade materials domestically, reducing reliance on imports from Russia and China.

Is the recycled material as strong as new titanium?
Yes. The testing conducted by QinetiQ and AMS Ltd. indicates that the recycled powder meets the rigorous quality standards required for aerospace structural components, proving chemically and mechanically equivalent to virgin titanium.

Who funded this research?
The work builds on the R2AM2 project, which was funded by Innovate UK, the United Kingdom’s innovation agency.

Sources: QinetiQ, University of Sheffield (Context)

Airbus Unveils Dual Rotorcraft Concepts for NATO’s Next Generation Capability

Airbus Helicopters has officially presented its vision for the future of military vertical lift, unveiling two distinct rotorcraft concepts designed to meet the requirements of the NATO Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability (NGRC) study. Announced on February 23, 2026, in Marignane, France, the proposal diverges from a “one-size-fits-all” approach by offering both a high-speed compound concept and a high-performance conventional Helicopters.

The initiative is part of a broader NATO effort to identify replacements for medium-lift multi-role helicopters currently in service, such as the NH90 and AW101, with a targeted entry into service in the late 2030s. Airbus has partnered with major defense industry players, including RTX businesses Collins Aerospace and Raytheon, as well as MBDA, to develop these concepts.

A Dual-Platform Strategy

According to the company’s official statement, the Airbus proposal prioritizes fleet complementarity. By developing two separate airframes that share a common digital backbone, Airbus aims to provide NATO nations with flexibility regarding cost and mission profile.

The High-Speed Compound Concept

The first concept focuses on speed and range, leveraging the aerodynamic configuration validated by Airbus’s X3 and Racer demonstrators. This design features added wings and lateral propellers, which the Manufacturers states will offer significantly higher speeds than conventional designs. Beyond raw speed, the configuration is designed to extend the flight envelope, allowing for rapid acceleration, deceleration, and enhanced climb and descent capabilities, traits critical for combat search and rescue (CSAR) or medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) missions.

The Conventional High-Performance Helicopter

The second concept is a conventional helicopter designed for standard utility roles where affordability and lift capacity may take precedence over extreme speed. While specific airframe details were not disclosed in the press release, the design philosophy emphasizes simplicity in manufacturing and maintenance to ensure long-term affordability.

Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters, highlighted the necessity of this mixed approach in a statement:

“We want to ensure that Europe is in a position to propose a platform that will best fit our military partners’ needs in terms of affordability, operational efficiency and maximum availability for both the conventional helicopter and for the high speed rotorcraft. These two concepts are a basis to further exchange with our military partners on their vision and need for future military operations.”

Technological Foundation and Partnerships

A core tenet of the Airbus proposal is the use of a Modular Open System Architecture (MOSA). This approach allows for the rapid integration of new technologies and ensures that both the high-speed and conventional platforms can share systems, training simulations, and maintenance tools.

The collaboration with RTX and MBDA suggests a focus on advanced connectivity and lethality. According to Airbus, the concepts will feature:

• Connectivity and Cybersecurity: Advanced Avionics provided by partner RTX.
• Crewed-Uncrewed Teaming: The ability to operate alongside drones and unmanned systems.
• Multi-Domain Collaborative Combat: Integration into broader NATO battle networks.

The NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) originally awarded the contract for this concept study in July 2024. The study challenges participants to design, develop, and deliver a medium multi-role helicopter capable of meeting future battlefield threats.

AirPro News Analysis

The Strategic Advantage of Hedging

By proposing two distinct aircraft, Airbus appears to be differentiating its strategy from competitors who are largely betting on single, radical architectures. While competitors like Sikorsky (Lockheed Martin) and Leonardo are advancing coaxial and tilt-rotor technologies respectively, Airbus is offering a “menu” option. This allows NATO members with tighter budgets to opt for the conventional, lower-risk platform, while those requiring rapid reaction capabilities can select the high-speed variant.

This dual approach also mitigates technical risk. While the Racer demonstrator has proven the compound wing-and-propeller configuration in flight tests, it remains a more complex solution than a standard rotorcraft. Offering a conventional alternative ensures that Airbus remains a viable contender even if NATO requirements shift back toward cost-efficiency over raw speed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the NATO NGRC project?
The Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability (NGRC) is a NATO initiative to develop a new class of medium-lift helicopters to replace aging fleets starting in the 2035–2040 timeframe.

Who are Airbus’s partners on this project?
Airbus is collaborating with RTX (specifically Collins Aerospace and Raytheon) for avionics and systems, and MBDA for weapons integration.

Is the high-speed concept a new design?
The military concept is a direct evolution of Airbus’s civilian demonstrators, the X3 and the Racer. The Racer recently completed flight evaluations with military pilots to validate the benefits of its wing-and-propeller configuration.

Sources

• Airbus Helicopters Press Release