No Small Task: Delivering AI at the Speed of Relevance in Defense

No Small Task: Delivering AI at the Speed of Relevance in Defense

August 19, 2026
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Mike Baylor

By Mike Baylor, Vice President and Chief Digital and AI Officer

As the world continues to witness the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence (AI), Lockheed Martin has been at the forefront of this technological revolution for years — long before “GenAI” was a buzzword. Through our legacy of innovation and commitment to staying ahead of the curve, we've established ourselves as a leader in AI research, development and deployment.

At the heart of our AI efforts is the Lockheed Martin AI Center (LAIC), a hub of innovation that brings together some of the brightest minds in the industry to tackle the most complex challenges. The LAIC partners with teams across the organization to build responsible, effective AI solutions that address real challenges today and deliver the capabilities of tomorrow. We also collaborate with the leading commercial AI providers to have the best tech, by maximally adaptive and move at speed and scale. By investing heavily in AI research and development, we've been able to stay ahead of the curve and develop cutting-edge capabilities that are transforming the way we operate.

It’s our goal to lead the world in the development and adoption of trustworthy AI in support of national and global security. That’s no small task and one we don’t take lightly.

It’s our goal to lead the world in the development and adoption of trustworthy AI in support of national and global security. That’s no small task and one we don’t take lightly. What sets us apart from others in the AI space is our commitment to doing AI right the first time. We recognized early on that AI was going to be a game-changer, and we made a conscious decision to invest in the technology, processes and people necessary to get it right. This approach has allowed us to develop and deploy AI solutions that are not only effective but also responsible, reliable and ready at the speed of relevance.

One of the key ways we ensure the responsible development and deployment of AI is through our rigorous testing and evaluation process. We believe that AI should be developed and deployed in a way that strengthens mission readiness for the warfighter, while also ensuring the safety and security of our systems and data. Our commitment to responsible AI practices is unwavering. We’re dedicated to working with government customers and industry partners to deliver trusted AI solutions ahead of need.

This commitment means we’re delivering AI solutions that are not only effective but also reliable and secure. It means our customers can count on us to stay ahead of the curve and develop new capabilities that will give them a strategic edge when it matters most. And it means they can trust us to always put the needs of the warfighter first, as we develop and deploy AI solutions that will support them in the most challenging environments.

As we look to the future, it's clear that AI will continue to play a critical role in shaping the defense landscape. And Lockheed Martin is committed to being at the forefront of this revolution. With our legacy of innovation, our commitment to responsible AI practices, and our focus on delivering mission-ready capabilities, we're confident that we'll continue to lead the way in AI for years to come.