The Historical Evolution of Lockheed Martin Company

19 12 Alan Lockhead and Loughead founded Alco Seaplane Company in Santa Barbara, California, and later renamed Loughehead Aircraft Manufacturing Company.

1926, Lockheed Martin's predecessor, Lockheed Company, went bankrupt, and Allen Lockheed reopened Lockheed Aircraft Company in Hollywood, California. 1929 Lockheed sold to Detroit Aircraft Company.

During the Great Depression, Detroit Aircraft Company went bankrupt. Robert Gross and Cortland Gross bought a part of the former Lockheed Company for $40,000. Alan Lockside raised $50,000 at that time, but thought the money was too small to participate in the auction.

1934 Robert gross became the chairman of the new company and changed its name to Lockheed.

In the1930s, Lockheed invested139,400 USD to develop the L- 10 electra dual-engine sports machine, and sold 40 sets in the first year of production. Amelia Earhart, a famous pilot, flew this kind of plane on his last flight. This plane is also the prototype of the Hudson bomber used by the Royal Air Force and the US Army during World War II. At the beginning of World War II, Lockheed successfully designed the P-38 Lightning Fighter, which is a high-speed interceptor with two engines and two tails. Its uses in the battlefield include ground attack, bomber escort and air superiority. The most famous is the mission to shoot down Isoroku Yamamoto.

During World War II, Lockheed produced 19278 aircraft, accounting for 60% of the total aircraft manufacturing in the United States during World War II. Including 2600 Ventura, 2700 B- 17 flying fortresses (made by Boeing), 2900 Hudson and 9000 lightning bolts.

Postwar production

During World War II, Lockheed cooperated with TWA to develop the L049 constellation passenger plane. This plane can carry 43 passengers from new york to London at a speed of 300 miles per hour in 13 hours. But during the war, all products were purchased by the military, and civil aviation only got its order after the war.

skunk works

1943, Lockheed designed the first jet fighter P-80 of the US Air Force. This kind of plane was developed by its advanced development department, which is nicknamed Skunk Studio. Later, the skunk factory also designed U-2, SR-7 1 Blackbird, F- 1 17 Nighthawk. Skunk studios can usually break through technical limitations and launch extremely amazing planes with limited time and resources. 19 12, Alco seaplane company was established.

19 16, and the company was renamed Loughead Aircraft Manufacturing Company.

1926, Lockheed was founded.

1929, Lockheed became a subsidiary of Detroit Aircraft Company.

1932, the gross brothers acquired Lockheed after the Detroit plane went bankrupt. In the same year, it changed its name to Lockheed and started a large-scale reorganization.

1943, skunk studio was established. 1954, C- 130 Hercules first flew. U-2 made its first flight. 1976, a political scandal was caused by bribing Japanese Prime Minister tanaka kakuei to buy a P-3 anti-submarine aircraft. 1986, Electronics Department of Saunders Alliance was acquired. 199 1 year, YF-22 was jointly designed by General Dynamics Company and Boeing Company, and participated in the bidding plan of advanced tactical fighter (ATF).

1993 Acquisition of General Dynamics F- 16 Production Department.

1995 merged with Martin marietta to formally establish Lockheed Martin.

1996, acquiring defense electronics and system integration business of Loral company.

1998, abandoned the merger plan with Northrop Grumman. If the merger is successful, the combined company will control 25% of the funds of the US Department of Defense.

In 2000, it was fined $654.38+03 million by the US government for providing secret information to Asia Satellite Co., Ltd. owned by the China government.

At 200 1, it won the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) contract. Domestic sales in the United States are expected to be $200 billion.

In 2003, in order to punish Boeing's commercial espionage, the US Air Force transferred the original contract worth one billion dollars to Lockheed Martin.

On March 29th, 2008, Lockheed Martin announced that it had won a huge order worth $766.2 million to design and build a new radio communication system for the US Department of Defense.

Lockheed Martin is the largest weapon purchaser of the US Air Force.

2065438+In July 2005, Lockheed Martin announced that it would acquire Sikorsky Aircraft Company, a subsidiary of HEC, for more than 8 billion dollars.