Page 23 - ADT NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2021 Online Magazine
P. 23

Going                                        Lockheed Martin’s technologies have helped strengthen regional

                                                     security for many decades and play a crucial role in deterring
                                                     geopolitical threats. We help our partners protect their national
                                                     interests while strengthening their industries and communities
                                                     from within.
        Strong                                       As we look to the future, the rapid advancement of artificial intelli-

                                                     gence, next-generation advanced materials, autonomous systems,
                                                     and cyber-hardened mission systems have the potential to create
                                                     new solutions that will shape our industry for decades to come.
                                                     From a capabilities perspective, developments such as Multi-
                                                     Domain Operations or Joint All-Domain Operations (MDO/JADO),
                                                     the space sector, advanced air mobility, hypersonics, electric pro-  [ INTERVIEW LOCKHEED MARTIN ]
                                                     pulsion, and hydrogen-powered aircraft are all likely to drive growth.
                                                     In terms of geographies, we see strong growth potential across
                                                     the GCC region, including the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and
                                                     Saudi Arabia.

                                                     How has the pandemic impacted Lockheed
                                                     Martin, and do you think it has affected aerospace
                                                     defence spending in the Middle East?
                                                     As the regional threat landscape continues to evolve in unpredict-
                                                     able ways, countries in the Middle East have remained consistent
                                                     in their defence spending despite the pandemic. Our industry
                                                     is regularly asked to address new and complex challenges that
                                                     require innovation and concerted efforts, and COVID-19 has not
                                                     changed that.

                                                     Thanks to our agile yet well-developed and comprehensive pro-
                                                     tocols and procedures, Lockheed Martin has managed the fallout
                                                     of pandemic-related challenges well so far. Since the start of the
                                                     crisis, we have been guided by three clear priorities: protecting our
                                                     people’s health and safety, continuing to perform and deliver for our
                                                     partners, and using our know-how and resources to support the
                                                     countries we operate in. The past 18 months have been a testing
                                                     time globally and we will hopefully be able to close this chapter
                                                     sooner rather than later.
          Interview: Robert (Bob) Harward,           Lockheed Martin has had a long-standing
          Chief Executive, Lockheed Martin,          relationship with the Middle East and the GCC
                      Middle East                    region. How have your regional operations fared
                                                     in the past few years?

        As the regional threat landscape continues   Since the 1960s, we have developed wide-ranging capabilities for
        to evolve in unpredictable ways, countries in   our Middle East partners. We entered the region with a delivery
        the Middle East have remained consistent in   of the C-130 Hercules airlifter to Saudi Arabia in 1965. Since then,
        their defence spending despite the pandemic,   our portfolio has expanded to include defence, advanced tech-
        says  Robert (Bob) Harward, Chief Executive,   nologies, space, and energy solutions. In Jordan, we delivered the
        Lockheed Martin, Middle East, in an interview   first F-104s in 1967. Today, we offer 15 products and services, and
        with  Jay  Menon,  Deputy  Editor  with  Asian   work continuously with the Jordanian Armed Forces to improve
        Defence Technology (ADT). Excerpts from the   their capabilities.
        interview:
                                                     We have been in the UAE since 1980, operating a comprehensive
        As the region enters the post-               portfolio in defence, advanced technology, security solutions, and
        pandemic recovery phase, in which            knowledge transfer programs. Egypt was the first Arab country
        areas and geographies do you see             to purchase F-16s in 1980. Since then, we have delivered multiple
        the most substantial potential for           security solutions for our partners there.
                                                     We initiated our partnership with Bahrain more than 40 years ago
        growth?                                      with the delivery of the L-1011 TriStar commercial airliner. Bahrain



        ASIAN DEFENCE TECHNOLOGY                                                        November / December 2021 | 23
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