Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works is being restructured as part of the streamlining of the US giant's aeronautics business. The Palmdale, California, site will no longer be a separate entity, becoming the advanced development organisation within the single Lockheed Martin Aeronautics company formed in January.
Skunk Works' roles of concept development, technology demonstration and rapid prototyping will be assumed by a new Advanced Development Programmes organisation with operations at the new Aeronautics company's Forth Worth, Texas and Marietta, Georgia sites, as well as Palmdale.
Within the Aeronautics company, Palmdale will continue to be responsible for the F-117 and U-2 programmes. The role of the new advanced development organisation will be expanded to encompass advanced fighter and airlifter activities under way at Fort Worth and Marietta. The organisation will be headed by Bob Elrod, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics' executive vice-president for programmes.
The change recasts Skunk Works along similar lines to Boeing's Phantom Works, a distributed organisation with operations at all major Boeing sites.
Source: Flight International