Lockheed Martin

Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is the world’s largest military contractor and arms supplier. It was the world's largest defense contractor by revenue in 2008. As of 2005, 95% of Lockheed Martin’s revenues came from the United States Department of Defense, other US federal government agencies, and foreign military customers.

It was Lockheed’s F-117 stealth attack fighters which were used for the “shock and awe” attack at the start of the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003. During the 1991 Gulf War, Lockheed’s C-130 Hercules was used to transport troops and equipment by the US Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps, along with the air forces of Australia, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, South Korea and the UK, and since 2003 it has been continually used to support the US and multinational forces in Iraq. During the invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 and the ongoing support of the International Security Assistance Force, the C-130 Hercules has been used operationally by Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, South Korea, Spain, the UK and the US.

Lockheed’s F-16 fighter jet has long been used in military action in the Middle East. The F-16’s first air-to-air combat success was achieved by the Israeli Air Force over Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley in April 1981. The following year, during the Lebanon war, Israeli F-16s engaged Syrian aircraft in one of the largest air battles involving jet aircraft, and were also used in their ground-attack role for strikes against targets in Lebanon. F-16s, aptly called the bomber workhorse of the Israel Defense Forces, participated in the 2006 Lebanon War. Most recently, they were used in attacks on Gaza in December 2008, killing mostly civilians.

The F-16 has been the major fighter plane used in the war in Afghanistan, and is now also being used by the Pakistan Army in Northern Pakistan. Carrying 500 lb and 2000 lb unguided and laser-guided bombs to attack caves, tunnels, training camps, ammunition dumps and hide-outs used by the militants, they drop their payloads indiscriminately in areas populated by civilians causing untold death and destruction.

In November 2008 the US government approved the sale to Israel of 25 Lockheed F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft, with an option for 50 more in coming years, a deal valued at nearly US$ 22 billion. The stealth F-35 is the most advanced fighter plane available, and Israel is the first non-NATO country to receive it. With plans to replace its F-16 fleet by the stealth F-35s, Israel has joined nine other nations in a massive development program with Lockheed for production of 3100 F-35s over the next 20 years, with each country contributing toward the US$ 40 billion financing of the program according to its expected level acquisition of the planes. Interestingly, Israel’s participation is as a so-called “security cooperation participant” for a minimal financial contribution.

As if providing the killing hardware were not enough, Lockheed Martin is also deeply involved in military training of the Israeli Defense Forces. In 2006 the Israeli Ministry of Defense awarded Lockheed a US$18 million dollar contract to provide a Flight and Systems Trainer for F-16 pilot training, while in the same year the US Navy awarded the company a $5 million contract to conduct a combat ship feasibility study for the Israeli Navy.

Please click here for a November 2010 update on Lockheed Martin’s F-35s.